Wislizenia

Herbs, shrubs, or subshrubs, annual or perennial. Stems sparsely branched laterally; puberulent, glabrous, or glabrate (scabrid when dry). Leaves: stipules minute tufts of filiform hairs; petiole without pulvinus (equal to or longer than leaflets); leaflets (1 or) 3, (conduplicate). Inflorescences terminal, racemes (dense); bracts usually absent; (pedicels 3–5 mm, glabrous). Flowers: zygomorphic; sepals usually persistent (eventually deciduous), distinct, equal; petals slightly unequal (in pairs); stamens 6 (well-exserted, ± equal); filaments inserted on gynophore, glabrous; anthers (oblong), coiling after dehiscence; gynophore reflexed in fruit; (pistil 2-lobed basally, style filiform, eventually spinelike). Fruits schizocarps, indehiscent, obovate, (reticulate, ± tuberculate, valves disarticulating from persistent, round septum). Seeds 2(–4), globose, not arillate. x = 10.

Distribution

sc, sw United States, nw Mexico.

Discussion

Species 3 (3 in the flora).

Wislizenia has been the object of diverse taxonomic opinions; as many as eight or as few as one species have been recognized. S. Keller (1979) documented three geographically and morphologically distinct groups within the genus. Although she treated those as subspecies, recognition as species seems more appropriate (H. H. Iltis, pers. comm.). The differentiation among the taxa seems equal to or greater than that among species in other genera of the family.

Selected References

Greene, E. L. 1906b. Revision of the genus Wislizenia. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 19: 127–132.

Keller, S. 1979. A revision of the genus Wislizenia (Capparidaceae) based on population studies. Brittonia 31: 333–351.

Lower Taxa

Wislizenia californica, Wislizenia palmeri, Wislizenia refracta

Key

1	Subshrubs or shrubs; leaflets 3 proximally, 1 distally, blade ovate to obovate, 3-8(-12) times as long as wide; sepals ovate.	Wislizenia palmeri
1	Annuals; leaflets 3 throughout, blade ovate to obovate, 1.5-4(-5.5) times as long as wide; sepals lanceolate	> 2
2	Leaflets less than 2.8 times as long as wide; gynophore ca. 5 mm in fruit; anthers 1.3-2.5 mm; petals 2.5-5 mm.	Wislizenia californica
2	Leaflets 1.5-4(-5.5) times as long as wide; gynophore 2-12 mm in fruit; anthers 0.5-1.7 mm; petals 1.4-4.6 mm.	Wislizenia refracta