Lewisia cotyledon

Taproots gradually ramified distally. Stems ascending to suberect, 10–12(–30) cm. Leaves: basal leaves evergreen, sessile or abruptly or gradually narrowed to broad petiole, blade oblanceolate, obovate, spatulate, or rarely ± linear or ± orbiculate, ± flattened, 3–14 cm, margins entire, crisped, or toothed, apex truncate, emarginate, retuse, or rounded; cauline leaves alternate, intergrading with bracts, blade oblong to ovate, 5–10 mm, margins glandular-toothed, apex acute to occasionally obtuse. Inflorescences dense, paniculate to subumbellate cymes, 10–50-flowered; bracts alternate or opposite proximally, 2 at each flowering node distally, obovate to lanceolate, 2–4 mm, margins glandular-toothed, apex acute. Flowers pedicellate, not disarticulate in fruit; sepals 2, suborbiculate to broadly ovate, 4–6 mm, herbaceous at anthesis, margins glandular-toothed, apex obtuse to truncate; petals 7–10, usually pink-purple with pale and darker stripes, less often white, cream with pink-orange stripes, ± orange, or yellow, oblanceolate, obovate, or spatulate, (8–)12–20 mm; stamens 5–12; stigmas 2–4; pedicel 2–5 mm. Capsules 3–5 mm. Seeds 4–15, 1.5 mm, shiny, smooth.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

w United States.

Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

The varieties occasionally co-occur. Natural hybrids with Lewisia leeana are known (see discussion under 8. L. leeana).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Lewisia cotyledon var. cotyledon, Lewisia cotyledon var. heckneri, Lewisia cotyledon var. howellii

Key

1	Basal leaf blade margins entire or slightly undulate, not toothed or crisped; petals (8-)12-14 mm	Lewisia cotyledon var. cotyledon
1	Basal leaf blade margins strongly crisped or toothed; petals 12-20 mm	> 2
2	Basal leaf blade margins toothed.	Lewisia cotyledon var. heckneri
2	Basal leaf blade margins strongly crisped	Lewisia cotyledon var. howellii