Gyrandra blumbergiana
Rhodora 115: 99. 2013.
Illustrator:
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Herbs 10–40 cm. Stems: rosettelike vegetative and elongated flowering stems present concurrently, to 100+ from crown, flowering stems branching throughout. Leaves: basal and near-basal present at flowering; blade narrowly linear, 10–30 × 0.4–0.6 mm, apex acute. Inflorescences proximally dichasial, distally monochasial cymes; pedicels 15–30 mm. Flowers: calyx 8–12 mm; corolla 15–18 mm, tube constricted above ovary, lobes elliptic, 8–9 × 3.5–4.5 mm, strongly constricted at base, where 1/3 as wide as at mid length, apex abruptly short-acuminate; anthers 2–3 mm; stigma lobes hemispherical. Seeds brown.
Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Along sulfur streams in open sites.
Elevation: 800–900 m.
Discussion
Gyrandra blumbergiana is known only from a single canyon in Presidio County but should be sought in northeastern Chihuahua, Mexico.
The case for placing Gyrandra blumbergiana in Gyrandra was presented by J. S. Pringle (2013). The corolla lobes of G. blumbergiana, being strongly constricted at the base, differ in shape from those of most Zeltnera species in the flora area, although they are approached by some of the variants of Z. venusta. This species differs from all other species of Gyrandra and from most species of Zeltnera in its perennial, tufted habit, with short, more or less rosettelike vegetative stems accompanying the flowering stems. Since this species was placed in Gyrandra only on the basis of its morphology, molecular studies of its relationships would be desirable.
Selected References
None.