2n = 16

2n = 16

Prostrate herb, forming densely matted patches up to 70 cm diameter, or occasionally creeping amongst other vegetation. Stems 1—2 mm diameter, glabrous, white, rhizomatous, and only rarely above ground. Leaves 8—24 mm long, glabrous, alternate, sometimes in fascicles or on short erect stems, appressed to the ground; lamina 3.2—7.0 × 2.5—5.0 mm, rotund, sometimes orbicular, rarely obovate, coriaceous, entire, apex obtuse, base obtuse or rarely cuneate; petiole 3.0—6.5(—17.0) × 0.5-1.0 mm, distinct from lamina. Flowers single, arising in leaf axils. Pedicel 3-9 mm long, glabrous, green to red-green, erect or spreading; bracts 1.5-2.3 × 0.7-0.9 mm, lanceolate, usually falcate, green, erect. Sepals 1.0-1.4 × 0.7—0.9 mm, narrow-triangular, distal part flushed red, apex subacute. Corolla 6.5-7.6 × 8.3-9.2 mm, 5 petals joined only in proximal part, with few scattered hairs in throat, inner surface white, outer surface flushed pale red with the veins distinctly so; petals 3.0-3.5 × 1.5-1.7 mm, lanceolate, petals sometimes weakly falcate. Ovary 1.4—1.6 mm long, green, glabrous, bilaterally compressed, base obtuse; ovules 15-21. Style 3.2-4.0 mm long, purple-red, hairs <0.6 mm long on distal part; stigma 0.7- 0.8 mm long, glabrous, orange-brown. Stamens 3— 3.2 mm long; anthers 0.8—1 mm long, yellow-brown; filament 2.0-2.2 mm long, white. Fruit 2—3(—3.3) × 1.8—2.8(—3.2) mm, ovoid, green, base obtuse, sepals persistent. Seeds 1.4—1.6 × 0.8—1.1 mm, laterally compressed, cream-white, one face convex the other flat or weakly convex, surface with pits. FL Dec— Feb; FT Jan-May.

A S. radicante foliis rotundis et apice et base obtuso, pedicello breviore, corolla et ovario et stylo minore distinguitur.