An ungainly, spindly plant with large fleshy leaves near the base, stems sparsely leafy; white, pink or bright pinkish-purple, trumpet-shaped flowers scattered about widely branched stems.
Flowers white, pink or bright pinkish-purple with lightly coiled, protruding, pink stamens, round, lobed, pinkish anthers. Flowers a long tube of petals and sepals. Seeds enclosed in persistent, fleshy, leathery, or woody sepals (anthocarp); leaves basal.
Habitat
Found in limestone soils or rocky soil containing gypsum at about 3500 feet.
Flower Characteristics
Flowers single or in ill-defined clusters of 2 to 5 on branches; flower is a long, greenish-bronze tube; white, pink or bright pinkish-purple petal-like lobes abruptly flare from tubes; 3 lightly coiled, projecting stamens; round, lobed, pinkish anthers.
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stout stems usually with a broad, sticky band on each internode; the basal leaves opposite, with 1 to 3 pairs near the plant base, thick and fleshy, heart-shaped; upper surfaces dull green to pale green, lower surfaces grayish-green; both surfaces smooth.
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Wedge-shaped and widened in the middle; 1/4 to 1/2 inch long and 1/16 to 1/4 inch wide; 10-ribbed, ribs narrow and wavy with well-developed, strongly wavy raised rims; fruits secrete mucilage when wetted.
Single seeds enclosed in persistent (remain attached), fleshy, leathery, or woody sepals.