Harrimanella

Coville

Proc. Wash. Acad. Sci. 3: 570, figs. 62, 66. 1901 ,.

Common names: Moss heather
Etymology: For Edward H. Harriman, 1848–1909, American financier and patron of science
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 8. Treatment on page 494. Mentioned on page 376.

Subshrubs small; branches prostrate, spreading, or ascending, mat-forming. Leaves densely crowded on stems; petiole very short, leaving small pegs on stem when leaves fall off; blade linear-oblong to subulate, margins entire or erose, surfaces glabrous. Pedicels nodding in flower, erect in fruit, slender; bracteoles absent. Flowers: sepals distinct or connate basally, ovate to oblong-ovate; petals connate ca. 1/2 their lengths, white or tinged with pink, apex blunt; stamens not exserted; filaments swollen at base; anthers inverted at anthesis, with awns; ovary globose to ovoid; style ovoid or conic; stigma simple. Capsules borne on erect pedicels, globose to ovoid, dehiscent basipetally. x = 16.

Distribution

North America, n Europe, n Asia.

Discussion

Species 2 (2 in the flora).

Key

1 Leaves divergent, blade linear-oblong, apex obtuse to broadly acute; pedicels barely exceeding leaves at anthesis; capsules 4-5 mm diam. Harrimanella stelleriana
1 Leaves loosely appressed, blade linear to subulate, apex acute; pedicels 3+ times longer than leaves at anthesis; capsules 2-3.5 mm diam. Harrimanella hypnoides