Stems decumbent to ± prostrate, pale green, 1–3 dm. Herbage pubescent, viscid, hairs simple, dendritic in some popu­lations, especially in s Texas, eglandular and glandular. Leaves subsessile; blade linear-lanceolate or oblance­olate to rhombic, 2–6 × 0.5–2 cm, length 3–4 times width, margins shallowly to deeply lobed (occasionally only a few shallow lobes). Inflorescences 1–5-flowered. Flow­ers: calyx 4–5 mm, densely pubescent, hairs mostly rela­tively long; corolla 5–15 mm diam. Berries 8–10 mm diam. 2n = 48.

Phenology: Flowering Mar–Oct (mostly late spring–early sum­mer, depending on rain).
Habitat: Deserts, grasslands.
Elevation: 0–2000 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Colo., Kans., N.Mex., Okla., Tex., Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas).

Discussion

Chamaesaracha coniodes is highly variable in leaf shape, vestiture, and stature. It is similar to C. darcyi and C. coronopus. Some populations are similar to C. sordida. The variation and its significance were discussed by J. E. Averett (2010b). J. Henrickson (2009) recognized C. texensis, which has simple hairs and may also have an understory of glandular hairs, as distinct from the type of C. coniodes, which has only dendritic hairs; this is part of the variability across the range of the species.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.