Herbs, shrubs, or subshrubs, single- or multi-stemmed, rhizo­matous, sometimes spread­ing to form ground cover or thicket, 1–25 dm. Stems erect to sprawling or decumbent, sometimes glaucous, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, hairs incurved. Leaves petiolate, petiole 0.5–5 mm; blade linear to ovate, 10–50(–65) × (3–)4–11(–16) mm, base cuneate to rounded, apex acuminate to rounded, surfaces glabrous or pubescent at least along basal midvein abaxially, hairs incurved. Racemes terminal, sometimes appearing axillary, 1–8(–22) × 1.5–3 cm; rachis not thorn-tipped; peduncle 0.2–0.6 cm; bracts deciduous to subpersistent, lanceolate to ovate. Pedicels 2.5–11 mm, pubescent or glabrous. Flowers cream, greenish, or pink, keel distally rose, fading green, 7–14 mm; sepals deciduous, ovate, elliptic, or suborbiculate, 1.8–4.5(–5.2) mm, pubescent; wings obovate to elliptic, (6–)6.3–11(–12) × (3–)3.5–5.6(–6) mm, usually pubescent, rarely gla­brous, margins ciliate; keel 7.5–10.2 mm, sac glabrous or sparsely pubescent, beak linear, entire, 0.5–2.5 × 0.2 mm, pubescent. Capsules ovoid to subglobose, 5.9–10.2 × 6–9.6 mm, base rounded to truncate or subcordate, margins with narrow, entire or slightly erose wing, glabrous, margins sometimes ciliolate. Seeds 4.5–7.3 mm, pubescent; aril 2–5.2 mm, lobes 1/4–1/2 length of seed.

Distribution

California, nw Mexico.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Rhinotropis cornuta var. cornuta, Rhinotropis cornuta var. fishiae

Key

1	Flowers (8.5–)9.5–14 mm; sepal wings abaxially densely short-pubescent; upper sepal apex usually acute to acuminate, rarely obtuse or rounded; petioles usually 2–5 mm.	Rhinotropis cornuta var. cornuta
1	Flowers 7–10.5(–11.2) mm; sepal wings abaxially glabrous or puberulent near apex; upper sepal apex usually rounded or obtuse, occasionally acute; petioles 0.5–3 mm.	Rhinotropis cornuta var. fishiae