Herbs, perennial [annual], or subshrubs, variously scabrous. Stems erect or ascending [scrambling or creeping]. Leaves: stipules persistent, linear-subulate or filiform; blade narrowly ovate to transversely ovate [lanceolate], unlobed to palmately, often hastately or sagittately, 3–5-lobed, maplelike, base cordate to rounded or truncate, margins crenate, serrate, or nearly entire. Inflorescences axillary, solitary flowers or, by upper leaf reduction, forming open panicles [racemes, spikes, or pedunculate glomerules]. Pedicels jointed, at least in fruit; involucellar bractlets persistent, 6–10, distinct. Flowers: calyx persistent, somewhat accrescent, not inflated, not spathaceous, lobes veined, not strongly ribbed, triangular-ovate, often narrowly so, apex acute; corolla rotate or funnelform [convolute], pink or white [yellow, sometimes with red spot].

Distribution

United States, Mexico, West Indies, Bermuda, Central America, n South America, Eurasia, tropical Africa, Pacific Islands (Philippines).

Discussion

Kosteletzkya is characterized by carpels that are uni-ovulate and capsules that are more or less depressed and five-angled, often bristly on the sutures. At maturity, the capsule valves separate from the fruiting axis as well as from one another.

A specimen of Kosteletzkya thurberi A. Gray at MO is labeled “Arizona (Gadsden Purchase) A. Schott leg.”; it is probably a duplicate of a collection by Schott from the Cocospera River near Cocospera in the Mexican state of Sonora in September 1855 (F, NY). Kosteletzkya thurberi is not known otherwise from north of Mexico.

Species 17 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Kosteletzkya depressa, Kosteletzkya pentacarpos

Key

1	Petals 5–14 mm, usually white, sometimes with pink blush, sometimes drying yellowish; calyx 3.2–6 mm; fruits variously hairy but with long, curved or hooked, simple hairs on sutures; seeds minutely hairy.	Kosteletzkya depressa
1	Petals 15–45 mm, usually pink, rarely white; calyx 7–11 mm; fruits hairy throughout, sometimes minutely so; seeds glabrous.	Kosteletzkya pentacarpos