Conopholis alpina

Liebmann

Förh. Skand. Naturf. Mötet 4: 184. 1847.

Common names: Bear corn
Illustrated
Synonyms: Conopholis alpina var. mexicana (A. Gray ex S. Watson) R. R. Haynes C. mexicana A. Gray ex S. Watson
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 17. Treatment on page 462. Mentioned on page 461, 463.

Stems 11–33 cm. Leaves triangular to narrowly lanceolate, 12–22 × 3–9 mm, mostly glandular-pubescent. Bracts mostly not concealing calyces, narrowly lanceolate, 12–22 × 2–7 mm, margins entire, glandular-ciliate, glandular-pubescent, veins not evident. Pedicels 0–3 (–4) mm; bracteoles 0–2. Flowers: calyx 6–9 mm, lobe apex obtuse; corolla 14–20 mm; anthers sparsely pilose or glabrous. Capsules 8–15 × 6–12 mm; styles mostly deciduous.


Phenology: Flowering Feb–Jul.
Habitat: Oak woodlands, mixed montane forests.
Elevation: 1500–2800 m.

Distribution

Ariz., N.Mex., Tex., Mexico

Discussion

R. R. Haynes (1971) recognized two varieties within Conopholis alpina based on purported differences in foliar texture, relative bract length, and glandularity, as well as semi-distinct ranges. However, the molecular and morphological analyses by A. G. Rodrigues et al. (2013) resulted in a reevaluation of taxon circumscriptions and redeterminations of selected specimens. The present treatment follows that of Rodrigues et al. in not recognizing infraspecific taxa within C. alpina.

B. R. McKinney and J. D. Villalobos (2014) documented the seeds of Conopholis alpina in the diet of Mexican black bears. The foraging behavior of bears in the western United States has given rise to one of the vernacular names, bear corn.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Conopholis alpina"
glabrous +  and pilose +
L. Turner Collins +, Alison E. L. Colwell +  and George Yatskievych +
Liebmann +
chartaceous +, leathery +  and fleshy +
1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (2.2 cm22 mm <br />0.022 m <br />) +
lanceolate +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
divided +  and tubular +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (0.9 cm9 mm <br />0.009 m <br />) +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br />) +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
Bear corn +
1.4 cm14 mm <br />0.014 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
Ariz. +, N.Mex. +, Tex. +  and Mexico +
1500–2800 m. +
hairy +  and glabrous +
2 +  and 1 +
indehiscent +, septicidal +, loculicidal +  and dehiscence +
Oak woodlands, mixed montane forests. +
black +  and dark-brown +
axillary +  and terminal +
deciduous +
1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (2.2 cm22 mm <br />0.022 m <br />) +
glandular-pubescent +
triangular;narrowly lanceolate +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.9 cm9 mm <br />0.009 m <br /> (?) +
lanceolate +
ciliate +, erose +  and entire +
glandular-pubescent +  and glandular-ciliate +
lobed +, toothed +  and entire +
tenuinucellate +  and unitegmic +
campylotropous-like +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
Flowering Feb–Jul. +
Förh. Skand. Naturf. Mötet +
black +  and dark-brown +
black;brown;black;brown;tan;glossy +
300 +  and 600 +
angled +  and ellipsoid +
5 +, 4 +  and 2 +
Illustrated +
subequal +
black +, brown +  and yellow +
aerial +  and subterranean +
11 cm110 mm <br />0.11 m <br /> (33 cm330 mm <br />0.33 m <br />) +
2-4-lobed +  and disciform-crateriform +
deciduous +
sclerenchymatous +
Conopholis alpina var. mexicana +  and C. mexicana +
Conopholis alpina +
Conopholis +
species +
not evident +
holoparasitic +  and hemiparasitic +