Cyphomeris

Standley

Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 13: 428. 1911.

Etymology: Greek, kyphos, bent, humped, and meris, part, in reference to the gibbous fruit
Basionym: Lindenia M. Martens & Galeotti Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 10: 357. 1843, Senkenbergia S. Schauer 1847
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 31. Mentioned on page 14, 17.

Herbs, perennial, glabrous or pubescent, from stout, ± woody taproots. Stems erect to reclining, often clambering through other vegetation, unarmed, with glutinous bands on internodes. Leaves subsessile to long petiolate, unequal in size in each pair; blade thin or thick and slightly fleshy, base ± asymmetric. Inflorescences terminal and axillary, pedunculate, racemose; bracts deciduous, 1 at base of each pedicel, distinct, lanceolate, thin, translucent. Flowers bisexual, chasmogamous and/or cleistogamous; perianth of cleistogamous flowers forming low dome atop basal portion; perianth of chasmogamous flowers slightly bilaterally symmetric, funnelform, strongly oblique, constricted beyond ovary, tube flared, limbs 5-lobed; stamens 5 (fewer in cleistogamous flowers), exserted; styles exserted beyond anthers; stigmas capitate. Fruits clavate, ± gibbous abaxially, often gently incurved adaxially, stiffly coriaceous; ribs 10, not well defined, with or without interrupted ridges or tubercules, glabrous.

Distribution

sw United States, Mexico.

Discussion

Species 2 (2 in the flora).

In its racemose inflorescence and clavate fruits, Cyphomeris resembles some species of Boerhavia Linnaeus, where its retention has been suggested by F. R. Fosberg (1978).

Key

1 Leaf blades glabrous or glabrate, lanceolate to linear, margins entire; fruits 8-11(-14) mm, striate, sometimes weakly warty Cyphomeris gypsophiloides
1 Leaf blades pubescent, ovate, broadly oblong, or rhombic, margins usually sinuate; fruits 6-8 mm, usually prominently warty on gibbous side Cyphomeris crassifolia
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