Plants to 4 dm; roots elongate, fleshily woody. Stems ± erect, usually branching. Leaves sessile; blade terete, to 7 cm. Inflorescences cymose, much overtopping leaves; peduncle scapelike, to 20 cm. Flowers: sepals deciduous, ovate, 3–4 mm; petals pink to rose-purple, obovate, 9–15 mm; stamens (40–)50–100; stigma 1, subcapitate. Capsules subglobose, sometimes trigonous, 3–4 mm. Seeds without arcuate ridges, 0.8–1 mm. 2n = 24, 48.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Oct.
Habitat: Woods, glades, barrens, cliffs, outcrops, rocky banks, sandstone, granite, gneiss, rarely limestone
Elevation: 100-1000 m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ala., Ga., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Va.

Discussion

Most populations of Phemeranthus mengesii are diploid but a few scattered in western Georgia are tetraploid, probably the result of autopolyploidy (W. H. Murdy and M. E. B. Carter 2001).

Selected References

Carter, M. E. B. and W. H. Murdy. 1986. Divergence for sexual and asexual reproductive characters in Talinum mengesii (Portulacaceae). Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 113: 259–267.

Montgomery, F. and D. Blake. 1969. Talinum mengesii Wolf from a new physiographic province. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 96: 719.

Lower Taxa

None.