Lygodesmia grandiflora var. arizonica
Great Basin Naturalist 43: 314. 1983.
Common names: Arizona skeletonplant
Basionym: Lygodesmia arizonica Tomb Sida 3: 530, unnumb. fig. p. 531. 1970
Revision as of 20:19, 16 December 2019 by FNA>Volume Importer
Plants 5–15(–25) cm. Stems erect to ascending, sparsely branched from bases, smooth. Leaves: proximal blades narrowly lanceolate to linear, 40–100 × 2–6 mm, ± lax, glabrous; cauline not reduced to scales (mostly 10+ mm). Heads 2–6, borne singly. Involucres cylindric, 18–25 mm × 5–7 mm, apices narrow. Phyllaries 5–6. Florets 5(–7); corollas pale pink to white. Cypselae 10–13 mm, abruptly narrowed below apex, faces rugose, adaxial strongly sulcate. 2n = 18.
Phenology: Flowering May–June.
Habitat: Arid grasslands on sandy soils
Elevation: 1100–1600 m
Distribution
Ariz., Colo., N.Mex., Utah.
Discussion
Variety arizonica is identified by its relatively short size (rarely over 20 cm), branched, leafy stems, and reduced or absent phyllary apical appendages.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.