Selenia aurea
J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 5: 132, plate 6. 1825.
Plants not winter-annuals. Stems (simple or few-to-many from base), usually erect to ascending, rarely subdecumbent, (slender), (0.5–) 0.8–2.7 (–3.5) dm. Basal leaves not rosulate; petiole 0.5–1 cm; blade margins 1-pinnatisect, (1–) 2.5–7 (–10) cm; lobes (3–) 6–12 (–18) on each side, (smaller than terminal), linear to oblong or ovate, (1–) 2–10 × 0.5–1 (–2.5) mm, margins entire or coarsely dentate. Cauline leaves (and bracts) similar to basal, smaller distally. Fruiting pedicels from racemes, (6–) 10–22 (–30) mm, (slender). Flowers: sepals spreading to ascending, oblong-linear, (3.5–) 5–7 × 1–1.5 mm, apex appendage not developed; petals spatulate, (8–) 10–13 × 3–4.5 mm, apex rounded; median filament pairs 5–7 (–8) mm, not dilated basally; anthers oblong, 1–1.5 mm; gynophore (0.5–) 1–2 (–5) mm, or, rarely, obsolete. Fruits usually oblong to elliptical, rarely suborbicular, usually latiseptate, rarely inflated, (0.5–) 1–2.5 (–3) cm × (3.5–) 5–8 (–11) mm, (not fleshy, thin-papery), base and apex acute; valves faintly reticulate-veined; replum flattened; septum complete or perforated; ovules (8–) 10–20 per ovary; style 3–9 (–12) mm, slender or flattened basally. Seeds 3–4 mm diam.; wing 0.5–1 mm. 2n = 46, 138.
Phenology: Flowering Mar–May.
Habitat: Sandy open grounds, barren rocky sandstone or clay, granite soil, rocky grounds, shale barren, open areas in mixed juniper and oak, chert barrens, pastures, sandstone glades, fields, rocky prairies
Elevation: 100-400 m
Distribution
Ark., Kans., Mo., Okla.
Discussion
Although R. C. Rollins (1993) and R. F. Martin (1940) suggested that Selenia aurea probably occurs in northeastern Texas, I have not seen any material from that state.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
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