Lachnocaulon beyrichianum

Herbs, perennial, cespitose, forming domes of rosettes, 15–23 cm. Leaves narrowly linear, abruptly attenuate, 1.5–4 cm, apex subulate. Inflorescences: scape sheaths shorter than leaves; scapes filiform, 0.5 mm wide, obscurely ridged, proximally densely pilose with ascending hairs, distally glabrous or nearly so; mature heads dull gray-brown or pale gray, globose to short cylindric, 3.5–4 (–5) mm wide; receptacle pilose with translucent hairs; outer involucral-bracts reflexed, brown to chestnut-brown, ovate, 1 mm, apex obtuse, abaxially pilose; inner bracts distally brown, broadly spatulate or pandurate, 1–1.5 (–2) mm, apex obtuse, pilose-ciliate, adaxially pilose with whitish, mealy, opaque, club-shaped hairs. Staminate flowers: sepals 3, brown to chestnut-brown, oblanceolate-spatulate, 1–1.5 (–2) mm, apex obtuse, ciliate, abaxially with white, mealy, opaque hairs; androphore pale, club-shaped, as long as sepals, glabrous; stamens 3, appendages 3. Pistillate flowers: sepals 3, tan or pale-brown, oblong to linear, 2–3 mm, apex acute, glabrous or abaxially pilose toward apex, hairs white; gynoecium 3-carpellate; stylar column pale, dilated apically, appendages 3. Seeds dark redbrown, very lustrous, ellipsoid, 0.5 mm, apex apiculate, longitudinal ribs faint, transverse ribs forming finely cross-striolate pattern.

Phenology: Flowering summer–fall.
Habitat: Sands and sandy peats, frequently dry pond shores, flatwoods, pine savanna, sandhills ecotones
Elevation: 0–100 m

Fla., Ga., N.C., S.C.

Discussion

Through its range Lachnocaulon beyrichianum is sympatric with L. anceps; it has narrower, more glabrous foliage, smaller heads, darker bracts, and smoother, more lustrous seeds. Where the two are in the same site, L. beyrichianum takes the drier substrata.

Of conservation concern.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa