Eyebane

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Eyebane

Eyebane

Eyebane

Eyebane

Eyebane

Eyebane

Eyebane

Morphology

Stem

Low-spreading to erect, branched above, tan to reddish-brown, sparsely to moderately white pubescent, sometimes in lines on opposite sides of stem; branch tips often arched.

Leaves

Opposite, sessile or very short-stalked, oblong or oblong-lanceolate to egg-shaped, slightly curved or sickle-shaped, .3 to 1.6 inch long, 3-nerved; surfaces glabrous or more commonly sparsely to moderately long-hairy near base; upper surface often with reddish spot; lower surface pale green or reddish-tinged; margins irregularly toothed; tips rounded or bluntly pointed; bases asymmetrical, side nearest stem tip usually angled or rounded.

Inflorescence

Cup-like involcure, solitary or in small clusters, in leaf axils.

Flower

Involcure egg-shaped, to 1/25 inch long, green or reddish-tinged, glabrous, rim shallowly 4-lobed; lobes white or pink, petal-like; staminate flowers 2--5; sepals 0; petals 0; stamen 1; pistillate flower: sepals 0; petals 0; ovary pubescent; styles 2-cleft for 1/3--1/4 their lengths.

Fruit

Capsule, ovoid, 3-lobed, to 1/10 inch long, on short stalk from cup-like involcure; seeds tiny, egg-shaped, wrinkled, grayish to light brown.

Ecology

Habitat

Disturbed sites, fields, thickets, roadsides, stream banks, waste areas; moist or dry soils.

Distribution

Occurs statewide

Practical Information

Toxicity

Poisonous to livestock, particularly when in hay. Known to cause death in lambs through photosensitization.

Uses

Native Americans rubbed the stem sap on their skin for itching and eczema and applied a poultice of crushed leaves to sores.

Additional Notes

Synonyms

Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.