''Micromonolepis pusilla'', (Syn. ''Monolepis pusilla'') is the only species of the genus ''Micromonolepis'' in the flowering plant family Amaranthaceae, known by the common names small povertyweed and red povertyweed. It is native to the Western United States, including the

Great Basin The Great Basin is the largest area of contiguous endorheic basin, endorheic watersheds, those with no outlets, in North America. It spans nearly all of Nevada, much of Utah, and portions of California, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, and Baja California ...

and surrounding areas, where it grows in sandy scrub, dry valleys,

playa Playa (plural playas) may refer to: Landforms * Endorheic basin, also known as a sink, alkali flat or sabkha, a desert basin with no outlet which periodically fills with water to form a temporary lake * Dry lake, often called a ''playa'' in the so ...

s, and other open habitat. It is a somewhat fleshy annual herb producing a branching, slender stem that has a mealy whitish texture when young and turns dull to bright red with age, losing its grainy coat. It grows up to 14 to 20 centimeters tall. The thick oblong leaves are up to a centimeter long. Clusters of 1 to 3 minute flowers appear in the leaf axils, each flower made up of 3 tiny sepals.

References

''Micromonolepis'' at Tropicos
accessed 05-Jul-2013

External links

Jepson Manual TreatmentUSDA Plants ProfileRed Povertyweed in WyomingPhoto gallery
Chenopodioideae Amaranthaceae genera Flora of the Western United States Monotypic Caryophyllales genera {{Amaranthaceae-stub