Koeberlinia spinosa

Zuccarini

Flora 15(2, Beibl.): 74. 1832.

Illustrated
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 7. Treatment on page 185.

Plants 0.5–10 m, spreading, globose, compact to somewhat open. Stems ± terete, green twigs thorn-tipped, 25–70 cm. Leaves 0.2–1.5 × 0.5 mm. Inflorescences 3–15 mm. Pedicels 3–6 mm. Flowers: sepals greenish white, ovate-deltate, 1–2 mm, glabrous; petals greenish white or cream, obovate or oblanceolate, 3–4.8 × 0.8–1.4 mm; filaments brownish, 2.8–4 mm, flat; anthers 0.8–1 mm, slightly curved; gynophore (stipe) 0.3–0.8 mm; ovary ovoid, 1–1.2 mm; style 0.4–1.4 mm. Fruits ca. 5 mm, mucronate from persistent style. Seeds 3–3.5 mm. 2n = 44, 88.

Distribution

V7 235-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Calif., N.Mex., Tex., n Mexico

Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Infraspecific variation has long been noted in the genus. W. C. Holmes et al. (2008) recognized three largely allopatric varieties.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Stipes 0.3-0.5 mm; styles 0.4-0.7 mm; mature thorns less than 15 times longer than base width. Koeberlinia spinosa var. wivaggii
1 Stipes 0.4-0.8 mm; styles 0.8-1.4 mm; mature thorns 20+ times longer than base width > 2
2 Plants less than 0.5-2.5 m; young thorns glabrous or finely puberulent; petals 3-4 mm. Koeberlinia spinosa var. spinosa
2 Plants 1-10 m; young thorns densely puberulent; petals 4-4.8 mm. Koeberlinia spinosa var. tenuispina
... more about "Koeberlinia spinosa"
ellipsoid +
0.08 cm0.8 mm <br />8.0e-4 m <br /> (0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br />) +
Gordon C. Tucker +
Zuccarini +
globose +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, N.Mex. +, Tex. +  and n Mexico +
pubescent +  and glabrous +
0.28 cm2.8 mm <br />0.0028 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
actinomorphic +  and pedunculate +
rotate;crateriform campanulate or urceolate +
indehiscent +
mucronate +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (?) +
0.03 cm0.3 mm <br />3.0e-4 m <br /> (0.08 cm0.8 mm <br />8.0e-4 m <br />) +
corymbose +  and racemose +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br />) +
arranged +  and alternate +
evanescent +
0.02 cm0.2 mm <br />2.0e-4 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (?) +
1-carpellate +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br />) +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
cream +  and greenish white +
distinct +
3mm;4.8mm +
oblanceolate +  and obovate +
0.08 cm0.8 mm <br />8.0e-4 m <br /> (0.14 cm1.4 mm <br />0.0014 m <br />) +
not arillate +
rugulose +
orbicular;reniform +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br />) +
greenish white +
persistent +
connate +  and distinct +
ovate-deltate +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
Illustrated +
glabrate +  and glabrous +
straight +
persistent +
0.04 cm0.4 mm <br />4.0e-4 m <br /> (0.14 cm1.4 mm <br />0.0014 m <br />) +
Koeberlinia spinosa +
Koeberlinia +
species +
thorn-tipped +
25 cm250 mm <br />0.25 m <br /> (70 cm700 mm <br />0.7 m <br />) +
open +  and compact to somewhat +