Cistanthe quadripetala

(S. Watson) Hershkovitz

Phytologia 68: 268. 1990.

Common names: Four-petaled pussypaws
Endemic
Basionym: Calyptridium quadripetalum S. Watson Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 20: 356. 1885
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 463. Mentioned on page 461.

Plants annual, roots fibrous. Stems 2 or more from each rosette, spreading to erect, 1.5–13 cm. Leaves basal and cauline; basal in single, prostrate rosette; blade spatulate, 0.5–6 cm. Inflorescences racemose or paniculate scorpioid-cymes, ± dense. Flowers pedicellate; sepals orbiculate to reniform, unequal, 4–6 mm, margins scarious; petals disarticulate in fruit, 4, pink to rose or white, 2–3 mm; stamens 1–3, anther yellow; style absent; stigmas 2; pedicel 1–3 mm. Capsules ovoid, 3–4 mm; valves 2. Seeds 5–14, black, orbicular, 0.5–0.6 mm, shiny. 2n = 44.


Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Open areas, usually on serpentine
Elevation: 500-2000 m

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Cistanthe quadripetala"
Walter A. Kelley +, John M. Miller +  and John G. Packer +
(S. Watson) Hershkovitz +
Calyptridium quadripetalum +
occasionally dentate;crisped +
spatulate +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br />) +
subtending +
unequal +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (?) +
Four-petaled pussypaws +
500-2000 m +
Open areas, usually on serpentine +
bracteate +, leafy +, 1-many-flowered +, secund +, cymose +  and umbellate +
paniculate +  and racemose +
not articulate +
subrosulate +, rosulate +, alternate +, subopposite +  and opposite +
cauline +  and basal +
not reflexed +
plurilocular +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
pink +  and rose or white +
distinct +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
Flowering Apr–Jun. +
strophiolate +
5 +  and 14 +
sculptured +  and smooth +
orbicular +
0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.06 cm0.6 mm <br />6.0e-4 m <br /> (?) +
persistent +
distinct +
orbiculate;reniform +
unequal +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
herbaceous;scarious +
1 +  and 3 +
branched +  and simple +
spreading +  and erect +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (13 cm130 mm <br />0.13 m <br />) +
Calyptridium +, Lewisiopsis +  and Spraguea +
Cistanthe quadripetala +
Cistanthe +
species +
not deciduous +
stoloniferous +  and not rhizomatous +