Krameria erecta

Shrubs, mound-forming, 1–2 m. Stems erect, with long and short-shoots, young branches green, becoming gray with age, strigose, tips often thorny. Leaves: blade linear to linear-lanceolate, on both long and short-shoots 0.5–15 × 0.5–2 mm, ape× acute to mucronate, surfaces strigose, sometimes with multicellular, stipitate, glandular-hairs. Inflorescences axillary, solitary flowers (on short-shoots only, often appearing clustered because of shoot compression). Flowers: sepals slightly cupped inward, bright pink or magenta, lanceolate to ovate, 8–10 mm; secretory petals pink, 2–3 mm, with oil-filled blisters mostly on distal portions of outer surfaces; petaloid petals 4–6 mm, connate basally, distinct portions green basally and pink or pink with purple edges distally, oblanceolate to reniform, 2–4 mm; stamens didynamous; ovary strigose; style pink. Capsules cordate in outline, with longitudinal ridge more pronounced on 1 face, 6 mm diam., glabrous or densely strigose, spines stout, 2–5 mm, each usually bearing curved, multicellular hairs on basal 1/2 and retrorse barbs near tip. 2n = 12.

Phenology: Flowering Mar–Oct.
Habitat: Sands, gravel ridges, limestone-derived soils.
Elevation: 0–1700 m.

Ariz., Calif., Nev., N.Mex., Tex., Utah, Mexico (Baja California), Mexico (Baja California Sur), Mexico (Chihuahua), Mexico (Coahuila), Mexico (Durango), Mexico (San Luis Potosí), Mexico (Sinaloa), Mexico (Zacatecas)

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa