Synthyris bullii
Muhlenbergia 1: 4. 1900.
Leaves strictly annual, disintegrating in 1st year; blade elliptic or ovate to broadly ovate, 25+ mm wide, leathery, base rounded to lobate or cordate, margins crenate, teeth apices obtuse to rounded, surfaces hairy; basal veins extending into distal 1/2 of blade, lateral-veins 3–6 on each side of midvein. Racemes erect, to 40 cm in fruit; sterile bracts 10–30, ovate-spatulate, largest 1+ cm; flowers 100+, densely aggregated (separating in fruit). Sepals 4. Petals (3 or) 4, apex entire or erose; corolla yellow, bilabiate, tubular to ellipsoid, longer than calyx, hairy, lateral and abaxial petals connate ca. 1/2 their lengths, tube conspicuous. Stamens epipetalous. Ovaries puberulent to villous; ovules 17–40. Capsules hairy.
Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun; fruiting May–Jul.
Habitat: Sandy prairies, sandy secondary deciduous forests.
Elevation: 100–400 m.
Distribution
Ill., Ind., Iowa, Mich., Minn., Ohio, Wis.
Discussion
Synthyris bullii is protected throughout its range and may be extirpated in Ohio (NatureServe, www.natureserve.org).
Selected References
None.