Boerhavia purpurascens

Herbs, annual; taproot tapered, soft or ± woody. Stems erect or ascending, unbranched when small to branched ca. 1–5 times throughout, 10–60 dm, minutely puberulent to glandular-pubescent basally, usually glandular-pubescent, sometimes minutely puberulent or glabrous distally. Leaves mostly in basal 1/2; larger leaves with petiole 2–22 mm, blade oval, ovate, oblong, or lanceolate, 12–37 × 5–20 mm (distal leaves smaller, proportionately narrower), adaxial surface glabrate, sparsely puberulent, sometimes glandular-pubescent, abaxial surface not noticeably to prominently paler than adaxial, glabrate or occasionally glandular-pubescent, both surfaces usually punctate with dark cells, base round to obtuse, margins sinuate to sinuate-crisped, apex acute, obtuse, or round. Inflorescences terminal, branched ca. 1–4 times unequally, without sticky internodal bands; branches strongly ascending, terminating in compact, capitate or subcapitate flower clusters, axis 0–2.5 mm. Flowers: pedicel 0.8–2.5 mm; bracts at base of perianth persistent, 1–3, ovate to obovate, 2.5–4 mm, apex apiculate; perianth whitish to pale pink, funnelform beyond constriction, 2.5–4 mm; stamens 3–4(–5), well exserted. Fruits 3–9 per cluster, straw colored to grayish tan, broadly obovoid, 2.3–3 × 1.3–1.7 mm (l/w: 1.6–2.1), apex round or broadly obtuse, glabrous; ribs 5, acute, smooth; sulci 2–2.5 times as wide as base of ribs, not or shallowly rugose, lightly papillate.

Phenology: Flowering late summer.
Habitat: Sandy soils in open arid grasslands, among open shrubs or oaks, pinyon pines, juniper [thornscrub]
Elevation: [200-]1300-1800 m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ariz., N.Mex., Mexico (Chihuahua, Sonora).

Discussion

The inclusion of Boerhavia purpurascens in recent Texas floras is based upon misidentified Mirabilis species (C. F. Reed 1969).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.