Hypericum aphyllum Lundell

Annual herb 0.4-0.65 m tall, erect, slender, with few short lateral branches. Stems green, 4-angled, the uppermost nodes ancipitous, with lines smooth; internodes 2 mm (lower)-12 mm (upper) long, exceeding leaves. Leaves sessile, appressed to outcurving, not tetrastichous, persistent; lamina 1-2.7 x 0.3-0.5 mm, triangular-subulate to linear-subulate, incurved, not cucullate, midrib not prominent, concolorous, not glaucous, scale-like; apex acicular, margin entire, base slightly expanded, not sheathing, free, basal vein 1, unbranched; laminar glands dense, punctiform, not prominent. Inflorescence c. 20-50-flowered, terminal, branching monochasial after first node, sometimes with one monochasial branch from node immediately below; all pedicels c. 1 mm long, flower appressed; bracts as leaves but smaller. Flowers c. 6-7 mm in diam., stellate. Sepals 1.5-2 x 0.3-0.5 mm, equal, not imbricate, narrowly triangular-subulate to linear- subulate, acute, margin entire; vein 1, unbranched, becoming prominent. Petals golden (?) yellow, tinged red outside, 2.5-3 x (?)0.5-1 mm, c. 1.5-1.7 x sepals, linear; apiculus and glands not seen. Stamens 5-6, c. 2-2.5 mm long, c. 0.8 x petals. Ovary c. 1 x 0.3 mm, fusiform; styles 3, 1 mm long, about equalling ovary; stigmas narrowly capitate. Capsule 3-5 x 1-3 mm, fusiform or very narrowly cylindric, acute, exceeding sepals; valves sometimes with 1-2 glandular vesicles. Seeds 0.3-0.4 mm long; testa very finely linear- scalariform (almost smooth).