Glossopetalon spinescens var. microphyllum

N. H. Holmgren

Brittonia 40: 272, fig. 1i – l. 1988.

Endemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 9. Treatment on page 16. Mentioned on page 15.

Shrubs, 25–60 cm. Branchlets divaricate to ± ascending, usually turning from grayish green to dull orangish brown toward end of 1st year, (sometimes later), glabrous or ciliolate. Leaves usually well developed at flowering, sometimes early deciduous, branches sometimes appearing nearly leafless later in growing season; stipules present, sometimes difficult to observe, adnate portion dark reddish purple to nearly black, usually well developed, noticeably thickened, free portion usually relatively well developed, mostly narrowly triangular to subulate, 0.4–1.2 mm; largest blade 3–7 (–8) × 1.2–2.7 mm, margins glabrous or ciliolate, glabrous. Petals 4–8 mm, mostly widest proximal to apex sometimes nearly oblong, apex rounded to gradually acute or acuminate, tips blunt or sharply pointed. Stamens 6–10 in 2 unequal series.


Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Rocky margins of washes, steep rocky hillsides, crevices and ledges of cliffs and outcrops, mostly on limestone substrates
Elevation: 1300–2400 m

Discussion

A single collection from San Bernardino County, California (Davidson, Gustafson & Reynolds 7853 [MO, RSA]), compares well with specimens from the main range of var. microphyllum in its small leaves, divaricate branching, and orangish brown older branchlets, but appears to differ in being a somewhat taller plant with the twigs changing color more tardily and the leaves moderately puberulent (versus glabrous) abaxially. Further studies may confirm a disjunct range extension for this variety in eastern California.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"widest" is not a number.

puberulent +, , +  and glabrous +
rounded;gradually acute or acuminate +
fimbrillate +  and discoid +
Charles T. Mason Jr.† +  and George Yatskievych +
N. H. Holmgren +
persistent +
tapered +, angled +  and decurrent +
expanded +
glandular-thickened +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (1.7 cm17 mm <br />0.017 m <br />) +
oblanceolate +
herbaceous;slightly coriaceous +
0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
ciliolate +  and glabrous +
slender +  and relatively stout +
opposite +  and alternate +
Ariz. +, Nev. +  and Utah. +
1300–2400 m +
grayish green;dull orangish brown +
list;count +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
short-tapered +  and angled +
Rocky margins of washes, steep rocky hillsides, crevices and ledges of cliffs and outcrops, mostly on limestone substrates +
saucer-shaped;shallowly cupshaped +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br /> (0.27 cm2.7 mm <br />0.0027 m <br />) +
drought-deciduous +  and deciduous +
glabrous +  and ciliolate +
2-3-lobed +  and entire +
obscure +  and apparent +
puberulent +, glabrous +  and glaucous +
puberulent +  and glabrous +
0.01 cm0.1 mm <br />1.0e-4 m <br /> (0.04 cm0.4 mm <br />4.0e-4 m <br />) +
persistent +
distinct +
narrowly elliptic-oblanceolate;oblanceolate +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
Flowering Apr–Jun. +
sessile +  and short-stipitate +
free +  and distinct +
purple +  and nearly black +
free +  and adnate +
mostly narrowly triangular;subulate +
0.04 cm0.4 mm <br />4.0e-4 m <br /> (0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br />) +
decurrent +
cream;brownish white;yellowish;tan +
pitted +  and smooth +
reniform +  and spheric +
distinct +
narrowly ovate;ovate +
unequal +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
unequal +
puberulent +  and glabrous +
decurrent +
triangular to subulate +
triangular +  and subulate or filiform +
hardened +  and scarious +
Forsellesia spinescens +
Glossopetalon spinescens var. microphyllum +
Glossopetalon spinescens +
variety +
not spinescent +  and spinescent +
pointed +  and blunt +
0.02 cm0.2 mm <br />2.0e-4 m <br /> (0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br />) +
yellowish-brown +  and orangish brown +
puberulent +  and glabrous +