Polygala glochidata

Herbs annual, single-stemmed, 1–3 dm, unbranched or branched throughout; from taproot or fibrous root cluster. Stems erect, pubescent or subglabrous, hairs spreading. Leaves whorled, at least proximally; sessile or subsessile; blade narrowly oblanceolate-spatulate to linear or scalelike, 3–25 × 0.5–2(–5) mm, base cuneate, apex rounded or acute, surfaces pubescent. Racemes cylindric, 1–3 × 0.5 cm; peduncle to 1 cm; bracts deciduous, narrowly ovate. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm, glabrous. Flowers pink, purple, or white, 2.5–4.5 mm; sepals ovate to elliptic, 0.5–1 mm; wings mostly elliptic, to ovate or obovate, 3–5 × 2–3 mm, apex acute or obtuse; keel 2.7–3.8 mm, crest 2-parted with 2–4 entire or 2-fid lobes on each side. Capsules ellipsoid, 1.5–2 × 1 mm, margins not winged. Seeds 0.7–1.1 mm, pubescent, hairs glochidiate; aril vestigial or, rarely, to 0.1 mm, unlobed.

Phenology: Flowering summer–late fall.
Habitat: Grasslands, montane slopes, near ephemeral springs or seeps.
Elevation: 1000–1800 m.

Ariz., Mexico (Aguascalientes, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, México, Michoacán, Sonora, Tabasco, Veracruz), West Indies, Central America, South America.

Discussion

Polygala glochidata occurs in Cochise, Pima, and Santa Cruz counties.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa