Ivesia lycopodioides

A. Gray

Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 6: 530. 1865.

Endemic
Synonyms: Potentilla lycopodioides (A. Gray) Baillon ex J. T. Howell
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 9. Treatment on page 232. Mentioned on page 230, 231, 233, 235, 236.

Plants green, usually rosetted, sometimes ± tufted; taproot fusiform, fleshy. Stems decumbent to erect, 0.3–3 dm. Basal leaves tightly to loosely cylindric, 1–15 cm; sheathing base glabrous abaxially; petiole 0.5–4 cm, hairs 0.2–1 mm; leaflets 10–35 per side, 1–8 mm, glabrous or short-hirsute, minutely glandular, lobes (2–)4–8(–10), linear to obovate or ± orbiculate, apex sometimes setose. Cauline leaves 0–2(–3), not paired. Inflorescences 3–20(–25)-flowered, (0.5–)1–2.5(–3.5) cm diam.; glomerules usually 1. Pedicels (0.5–)1–7(–11) mm. Flowers 6–12 mm diam.; epicalyx bractlets oblong to oval, 0.8–2.5(–3) mm; hypanthium shallowly cupulate, 1–2 × 2.5–5 mm; sepals (1.8–)2–4(–4.5) mm, obtuse to acute; petals golden yellow, obovate, 2–5 mm; stamens 5, filaments 0.8–2 mm, anthers yellow, 0.6–0.8 mm; carpels (5–)8–15(–18), styles 1–3 mm. Achenes greenish tan to light brown, 1.2–1.5 mm.

Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

The three varieties of Ivesia lycopodioides are for the most part readily distinguished, though intergradation is known. The high-elevation var. lycopodioides extends farthest north; var. scandularis is the only variety in the White Mountains. Variety megalopetala is found mostly at somewhat lower (subalpine) elevations and generally has a more southern range.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Leaflets short-hirsute, apical setae (0–)0.5–1(–2) mm; White Mountains and c Sierra Nevada. Ivesia lycopodioides var. scandularis
1 Leaflets glabrous or sparsely short-hirsute, apical setae 0–0.5 mm; Sierra Nevada and Sweetwater Mountains > 2
2 Leaflet lobes ± orbiculate, ± 1 mm; petals 2–3 × 1 mm. Ivesia lycopodioides var. lycopodioides
2 Leaflet lobes linear to oblanceolate, 2–8 mm; petals 3–5 × 2–4 mm. Ivesia lycopodioides var. megalopetala