Waldsteinia parviflora

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Herbs, 10–20 cm. Leaves mostly ternately compound, rarely merely deeply lobed; leaflets broadly cuneate-obovate, 3–5 cm, lateral ones asymmetric, margins commonly shallowly and irregularly lobed, surfaces sparsely hirsute. Inflorescences 3–7-flowered. Flowers 8–10 mm diam.; hypanthium obcampanulate, 2–4 mm, strigose; petals elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, 2.5–4.5 mm, shorter than to barely exceeding sepals, apex often acute; carpels 3 or 4.

Phenology: Flowering Mar–Apr.
Habitat: Woods, mountains, and piedmont
Elevation: 100–400 m

Ala., Ga., Ky., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Va.

Discussion

Waldsteinia parviflora closely resembles W. fragarioides but has generally smaller flowers with petals shorter than to subequal to the sepals. The possibility that W. parviflora originated as a hybrid between W. fragarioides and W. lobata should be investigated.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa