Callirhoë pedata

Plants perennial. Stems (1–) 2–5 (–15), erect to weakly erect, 1.5–9 dm, essentially glabrous, but often with trace of simple or 4-rayed stellate hairs, glaucous. Leaves: stipules persistent, linearlanceolate to subulate, 4–12.5 (–15) mm; petiole 3.5–16 cm; blade cordate, suborbiculate, or ovate, crenate or 3–5-lobed, 2.5–8 (–16) × 2.5–8 (–14) cm, surfaces sparsely hairy with simple hairs abaxially, glabrate adaxially, lobes oblanceolate to obtrullate. Inflorescences racemose; involucellar bractlets absent. Flowers bisexual, rarely functionally pistillate; calyx lobes valvate in bud, forming apiculate or acuminate point; petals reddish purple without white basal spot, rarely white or intergrading shades of pink, 1.6–3.2 cm. Schizocarps 6–7.5 mm diam.; mericarps 10–16, 2.5–3 × 2.5–3 mm, glabrous or with simple, appressed hairs, indehiscent; beaks prominent or not, 0.7–1.2 mm; collars absent or very weakly developed. 2n = 28.

Phenology: Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat: Open oak or oak-pine woods, mesquite woodlands, margins of woods, prairies, roadsides
Elevation: 100–500 m

Ala., Ark., Ga., Ill., Okla., Tex.

Discussion

Callirhoë pedata is variable with respect to indument, leaf size and shape, and mericarp shape; it is perhaps most closely related to C. alcaeoides, with which it intergrades in Oklahoma. In population samples, flowers of C. pedata are usually bisexual, and rarely functionally pistillate. Callirhoë pedata frequently is confused with C. digitata. Callirhoë pedata is introduced in Alabama, Georgia, and Illinois.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa