Glossopetalon spinescens var. planitierum

(Ensign) Yatskievych

Novon 17: 530. 2007.

Common names: Plains greasebush
Endemic
Basionym: Forsellesia planitierum Ensign Amer. Midl. Naturalist 27: 509, fig. 8. 1942
Synonyms: Glossopetalon planitierum (Ensign) H. St. John
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 9. Treatment on page 16. Mentioned on page 15.

Shrubs, 40–120 cm. Branchlets usually ascending, usually turning from grayish green to yellowish-brown toward end of 2d or 3d year, glabrous or nearly so. Leaves mostly well developed at flowering and tardily deciduous, branches appearing leafy during most of growing season; stipules present, sometimes difficult to observe, adnate portion dark reddish purple to nearly black, usually well developed, noticeably thickened, free portion relatively poorly developed, triangular to narrowly triangular or subulate, 0.2–0.4 mm; largest blade 6–14 × 2–4 mm, margins ciliolate, moderately puberulent, sometimes glabrescent. Petals 4–6 mm, mostly widest proximal to apex sometimes nearly oblong, apex rounded to gradually angled or acuminate, tips blunt or sharply pointed. Stamens usually 8 in 2 unequal series.


Phenology: Flowering Mar–May.
Habitat: Upland prairie slopes, crevices, ledges, cliff tops, drainages, outcrops, on limestone, gypsum, and sandstone substrates
Elevation: 800–1600 m

Distribution

V9 24-distribution-map.jpg

Colo., N.Mex., Okla., Tex.

Discussion

The range of var. planitierum is centered on the Texas Panhandle; it does not overlap with those of other members of the Glossopetalon spinescens complex. M. R. Ensign (1942) noted an unusual collection from near the Louisiana border in Marion County, Texas (Harris 470, US). This disjunct occurrence, upon which Ensign equivocated, would extend the distribution of the taxon significantly eastward and significantly lower its elevational limit (and that of the entire genus) to about 50 m. Plants have not been rediscovered in eastern Texas since 1930.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"widest" is not a number.

puberulent +, , +  and glabrous +
rounded;gradually angled or acuminate +
fimbrillate +  and discoid +
Charles T. Mason Jr.† +  and George Yatskievych +
(Ensign) Yatskievych +
persistent +
tapered +, angled +  and decurrent +
expanded +
glandular-thickened +
Forsellesia planitierum +
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 />) +
nearly +  and glabrous +
slender +  and relatively stout +
opposite +  and alternate +
Plains greasebush +
Colo. +, N.Mex. +, Okla. +  and Tex. +
800–1600 m +
grayish green;yellowish-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 +
Upland prairie slopes, crevices, ledges, cliff tops, drainages, outcrops, on limestone, gypsum, and sandstone substrates +
saucer-shaped;shallowly cupshaped +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (1.4 cm14 mm <br />0.014 m <br />) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
drought-deciduous +  and deciduous +
glabrescent +, puberulent +  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 /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
Flowering Mar–May. +
sessile +  and short-stipitate +
free +  and distinct +
purple +  and nearly black +
free +  and adnate +
triangular;narrowly triangular or subulate +
0.02 cm0.2 mm <br />2.0e-4 m <br /> (0.04 cm0.4 mm <br />4.0e-4 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 +
Glossopetalon planitierum +
Glossopetalon spinescens var. planitierum +
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 +