Genus: 1 species
English: Tinytim; Earth-fruit.
Region: rare; USA, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Texas.
Culture: threatened species, by climate changed.
Habitat: sandstone glades and outcrops; bare, sparsely vegetated areas; soil with large amounts of magnesium and sodium salts; slicks with a coating of lichens and Nostoc cyanobacteria that are very wet after winter rain and then dry into a hard crust; harsh habitat.
TaxonomyFormerly placed in
Aizoaceae; present-day taxonomists place it in
Caryophyllaceae.
BotanyHerb; small, up to 4 cm; full life cycle within four weeks around February and March; populations are small in dry years and can contain thousands of plants in a wet season; grayish, brownish, or green when new and then turns magenta, red, bright pink, or purplish as it matures.
Stem: hair-thin.
Content: anthocyanins.
Leaves: tiny, 3 or 4 millimeters long.
Inflorescence: red or purplish; one flower no more than 4 millimeters long.