Comandra umbellata

(Linnaeus) Nuttall

Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 1: 157. 1818.

Illustrated
Basionym: Thesium umbellatum Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 1: 208. 1753
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 409.

Leaf-blades light green to grayish or bluish green, lanceolate, elliptic, or ovate, 0.7–5.3 cm, apex obtuse, acute, or acuminate. Flowers: hypanthium base not dilated.

Distribution

V12 110-distribution-map.jpg

Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., N.S., N.W.T., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Yukon, Ala., Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Conn., D.C., Del., Ga., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., Maine, Mass., Md., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Mont., N.C., N.Dak., N.H., N.J., N.Mex., N.Y., Nebr., Nev., Ohio, Okla., Oreg., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Utah, Va., Vt., W.Va., Wash., Wis., Wyo., n Mexico, s Europe (Balkan peninsula)

Discussion

Subspecies 4 (3 in the flora).

Comandra umbellata is likely the most widespread Santalales species, occurring throughout the United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico as well as in the Balkan peninsula, where subsp. elegans (Rochel ex Reichenbach) Piehl occurs. Comandra umbellata is the alternate host for comandra blister rust (Cronartium comandrae), which damages pines in North America.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Leaf blades thin, green, not glaucous; pseudodrupes 4–6 mm; rhizome cortex white to beige; Canada, c, e United States. Comandra umbellata subsp. umbellata
1 Leaves thin or thick, becoming ± succulent, green to grayish or bluish green, glaucous; pseudodrupes 5–9 mm; rhizome cortex blue, drying blackish; w North America. > 2
2 Leaf blade lateral veins obscure on abaxial surface; proximal part of aerial stems not overwintering; herbs 5–33 cm. Comandra umbellata subsp. pallida
2 Leaf blade lateral veins apparent on abaxial surface; proximal part of aerial stems overwintering; subshrubs 15–40 cm. Comandra umbellata subsp. californica
... more about "Comandra umbellata"
acuminate +, acute +  and obtuse +
Daniel L. Nickrent +
(Linnaeus) Nuttall +
Thesium umbellatum +
light green;grayish or bluish green +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (5.3 cm53 mm <br />0.053 m <br />) +
ovate +, elliptic +  and lanceolate +
exfoliating +
papery +  and corky +
Alta. +, B.C. +, Man. +, N.B. +, N.S. +, N.W.T. +, Ont. +, P.E.I. +, Que. +, Sask. +, Yukon +, Ala. +, Ariz. +, Ark. +, Calif. +, Colo. +, Conn. +, D.C. +, Del. +, Ga. +, Idaho +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Iowa +, Kans. +, Ky. +, Maine +, Mass. +, Md. +, Mich. +, Minn. +, Miss. +, Mo. +, Mont. +, N.C. +, N.Dak. +, N.H. +, N.J. +, N.Mex. +, N.Y. +, Nebr. +, Nev. +, Ohio +, Okla. +, Oreg. +, Pa. +, R.I. +, S.C. +, S.Dak. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +, Utah +, Va. +, Vt. +, W.Va. +, Wash. +, Wis. +, Wyo. +, n Mexico +  and s Europe (Balkan peninsula) +
persistent +
campanulate +
free +  and adnate +
funnel--shaped +
corymblike +  and paniclelike +
alternating +
persistent +
free +, distinct +  and connate +
oblong +  and lanceolate +
Gen. N. Amer. Pl. +
white;beige or blue +
deciduous +
andromonoecious +  and synoecious +
Illustrated +
filiform +
Comandra umbellata +
Comandra +
species +
subshrub +  and herb +