Synthyris oblongifolia

Leaves strictly annual, disintegrating in 1st year; blade narrowly ovate to ovate or oblong-ovate, 25+ mm wide, slightly leathery, base obtuse, truncate, rounded, or cordate, margins crenate, teeth apices acute to obtuse, surfaces glabrous or sparsely hairy; basal veins extending through proximal 1/2 of blade, lateral veins 5–12 on each side of midvein. Racemes erect, to 30 cm in fruit; sterile bracts 11–20, ovate-spatulate, largest 1+ cm; flowers 100+, densely aggregated (separating in fruit). Sepals 3(or 4). Petals 3 (abaxial petals sometimes with numerous subsidiary lobes), apex entire or erose; corolla pink, bilabiate, tubular to ellipsoid, 2–3 mm longer than calyx, glabrous, lateral and abaxial petals of abaxial lip connate 1/2+ their lengths, abaxial and adaxial lips sometimes basally adnate slightly to stamen filaments, tube absent. Stamens inserted on receptacle. Ovaries puberulent to villous at apex; ovules 17–40. Capsules densely hairy.

Phenology: Flowering May–Sep; fruiting Jun–Oct.
Habitat: Alpine and subalpine meadows.
Elevation: 2900–3700 m.

N.Mex.

Discussion

Synthyris oblongifolia is endemic to the Sierra Blanca Range in Lincoln and Otero counties.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa