Nolina micrantha

Plants acaulescent, cespitose; rosettes from vertical, subterranean, branched caudices. Leaf blades stiff, wiry, concavo-convex, 80–130 cm × 4–6 mm, not glaucous; margins entire or remotely serrulate, with widely separated, noncartilaginous teeth; apex lacerate. Scape 0.5–2 dm. Inflorescences paniculate, usually conspicuously tinged purple, 3.5–7.5 dm × 10–20 cm, held partially within rosettes; main rachis and divisions slender, flexible; bracts mostly persistent, to 30 cm, apex curled; bractlets erose, 1.5–3 mm, margins hyaline. Flowers: tepals 1.9–3.2 mm; fertile stamens: filaments 0.9–1.3 mm, anthers 0.7–0.9 mm; infertile stamens: filaments 0.5–0.7 mm, anthers 0.4–0.5 mm; fruiting pedicel erect, slender, articulate near middle, not noticeably dilated, proximal to joint to 1.5 mm, distal to joint to 2.5 mm. Capsules firm-walled, inflated, 3–4 × 4.3–5.5 mm. Seeds closely invested in capsules, rounded, bursting ovary walls, 3–4 mm diam.

Phenology: Flowering late spring–early summer.
Habitat: Rocky limestone slopes or sandy soils, in grasslands
Elevation: 1100–1400 m

Distribution

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• Legacy Map

N.Mex., Tex.

Discussion

Nolina micrantha is similar to N. texana except for the purple pigment throughout its inflorescences, later flowering dates, and less robust habit.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.