Pyxidanthera

Illustrator: Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Subshrubs, creeping, mat-forming, caulescent, rhizomatous, from adventitiously rooted, slender, woody stems. Stems: main stems mostly prostrate to decumbent, branched; branches prostrate to decumbent. Leaves cauline, alternate, often densely congested, 2–7(–10) mm; petiole absent; blade narrowly oblanceolate to lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, margins entire, apex acute, minutely apiculate, surfaces glabrous or hairy, appearing 1-veined. Inflorescences solitary flowers, usually at tips of short, leafy branches, sessile. Flowers: sepals connate proximally; petals connate in proximal 2/5–1/2, corolla rotate, 2–5 mm, lobes white, margins entire or slightly erose; anthers 2-locular, basally spurred, transversely dehiscent; filaments adnate to corolla tube; staminodes absent. x = 6.

Distribution

se United States.

Discussion

Species 2 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

Godt, M. J. W. and J. L. Hamrick. 1995. Low levels of allozyme differentiation between Pyxidanthera (pyxie-moss) taxa (Diapensiaceae). Pl. Syst. Evol. 195: 159–168.

Primack, R. B. and R. Wyatt. 1975. Variation and taxonomy of Pyxidanthera (Diapensiaceae). Brittonia 27: 115–118.

Lower Taxa

Pyxidanthera barbulata, Pyxidanthera brevifolia

Key

1	Leaf blades narrowly oblanceolate to lanceolate, 3.5-7(-10) mm, those of fertile shoots ciliate along proximal margins, adaxial surface usually white-pilose on proximal 1/5-1/3.	Pyxidanthera barbulata
1	Leaf blades ovate-lanceolate to obovate-lanceolate, usually 2-4 mm, those of fertile shoots eciliate, adaxial surface white-pilose throughout.	Pyxidanthera brevifolia