Taxon	Illustrator ⠉
	Cottsia gracilis Heteropterys brachiata Hiptage benghalensis	Karin Douthit Karin Douthit Karin Douthit

Vines, twining, wiry, slender, with woody base, sometimes seeming shrubby when grazed. Leaves usually bearing pair of stalked glands or eglandular processes on blade margin near base; stipules interpetiolar, distinct. Inflorescences terminal on lateral shoots, 2–4-flowered umbels. Pedicels raised on peduncles. Flowers all chasmogamous, 6+ mm diam., showy with visible petals, stamens, and styles; calyx glands usually 8 (anterior sepal usually eglandular, 4 lateral usually 2-glandular); corollas bilaterally symmetric, petals lemon yellow, glabrous; stamens [2] (4–) 5, 2 fertile, opposite posterior-lateral sepals, [0–] (2–) 3 staminodial, opposite anterior and anterior-lateral sepals, (staminodial filaments rudimentary); fertile anthers subequal, staminodial anthers absent; pistil 3-carpellate, carpels completely connate in ovary; style 1, borne on anterior carpel, cylindric; stigma terminal, capitate [truncate], large. Fruits schizocarps, breaking into 3 samaras; samaras bearing 1 elongate dorsal wing thickened on adaxial edge, veins bending toward thinner abaxial edge, lateral wings absent; nut reticulate and often parallel-rugose on sides, wall thick, tough. x = 10.

Distribution

sw United States, n Mexico

Discussion

Species 3 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Cottsia gracilis