Croomia pauciflora

(Nuttall) Torrey

in J. Torrey and A. Gray, Fl. N. Amer. 1: 663. 1840.

IllustratedEndemic
Basionym: Cissampelos pauciflora Nuttall J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 7: 114. 1834
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 467. Mentioned on page 462.

Rhizomes extensive, internodes 8–10 cm. Stems to 28 cm. Basal leaves 1–2, from rhizomes and proximal 5 cm of aerial stems, striate (from parallel veins). Cauline leaves distichous; petiole channeled, 3–4.5 cm; blade ovate, 7–8 cm, base cordate, margin scabrous, apex cuspidate-obtuse. Flowers: perianth ca. 1 cm wide; tepals caducous, greenish, often purple- tinged, ligulate to ovate; filaments thick; ovary ca. 1 × 1.5 mm; pedicel 8–11 mm, joint ca. 2/3 distance from base. Capsules globose, to 1 cm.


Phenology: Flowering spring.
Habitat: Rich, sandy or rocky loam of mesic, wooded slopes and bottoms, usually in nearly neutral soils
Elevation: 20–300 m

Discussion

The attribution to Louisiana (based on a single nineteenth-century collection) is doubtful (R. D. Thomas, pers. comm.). Apparently rare, Croomia pauciflora sometimes may be overlooked because of its superficial resemblance to juvenile forms of Smilax ecirrhata S. Watson and S. herbacea Linnaeus.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Croomia pauciflora"
R. David Whetstone +
(Nuttall) Torrey +
Cissampelos pauciflora +
Ala. +, Fla. +, Ga. +  and La. +
20–300 m +
Rich, sandy or rocky loam of mesic, wooded slopes and bottoms, usually in nearly neutral soils +
Flowering spring. +
in J. Torrey and A. Gray, Fl. N. Amer. +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
Croomia pauciflora +
species +