Hypoxis hirsuta
Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 5: 118. 1894.
Leaves (1–) 2–5 (–15) mm wide, soft, flexible, essentially glabrous or sparsely to densely pubescent. Scape (4–) 5–17 (–25) cm. Inflorescences umbellate, 1–5 (–7) -flowered; proximal 2 flowers, when present, always paired; bracts (1–) 2–10 (–17) mm. Flowers: tepals (3–) 6–10 (–17) × 2–4 (–5) mm, shorter than pedicel, much longer than ovary; anthers 1.5–3.5 (–4) mm; ovary obconic, (1–) 2–4 × (1–) 2–4 mm, densely pubescent; pedicel (6–) 9–25 (–30) mm, usually 2+ times longer than bracts. Seeds black, lustrous, (0.9–) 1–1.5 (–1.7) mm, coarsely muricate.
Phenology: Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat: Wet to dry woodlands and prairies
Elevation: 0–1700 m
Distribution
![V26 343-distribution-map.jpg](/w/images/a/a2/V26_343-distribution-map.jpg)
Man., Ont., Sask., Ala., Ark., Colo., Conn., Del., D.C., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., N.Dak., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis.
Discussion
Very rarely, specimens of Hypoxis hirsuta have cylindrical ovaries and/or bracts nearly equaling the pedicels. These specimens are recognized by the umbelliform inflorescence typical of H. hirsuta. The condition appears to be pathological and is associated with a lack of seed development.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
"broad" is not a number."thicker" is not a number.