Hylodesmum pauciflorum

Stems monomorphic; ascending or spreading, branched or unbranched, 20–60 cm, uncinate-puberulent and sparsely pilose. Leaves 3-foliolate, usually 4–6 and alternate; stipules caducous, subulate to narrowly ovate, 1.5–5 mm, apex acute; petiole 5.5–6.5 cm; leaflets often estipellate, sometimes stipellate, surfaces appressed-pubescent; lateral blade oblique, slightly smaller than terminal; terminal blade broadly obovate to rhombic, 3–9 × 4–6.5 cm, apex acute or short-acuminate. Inflorescences usually terminal, mostly unbranched, sometimes axillary from distal leaf axils and relatively short; rachis white-pilose and densely uncinate-puberulent; primary bract linear to narrowly ovate, 1–4 mm. Pedicels stout, 2–7 mm, uncinate-puberulent. Flowers: calyx 1.5–1.8 mm, white-puberulent, hairs rather abundant, long, stiff; corolla white, 4.5–6.5 mm, keel distinct, not connate along abaxial margin (exposing reproductive organs). Loments 1 or 2(or 3)-articulate; segments asymmetrically obtriangular, 9–14 × 6–8 mm; stipe 5–9 mm, uncinate-puberulent. 2n = 22.

Phenology: Flowering summer–fall.
Habitat: Rich, moist woodlands, bottomlands or slopes, drier uplands.
Elevation: 10–300 m.

Ala., Ark., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kans., Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va.

Discussion

Hylodesmum pauciflorum can be locally abundant in mesic woods with rich soil, although it is less common than the other two members of the genus in the flora area. The stems are initially upright and are weak; they are often bent by wind and rain as the season progresses. The absence of fusion of the keel petals is unusual for the tribe; apparently, the pollination biology of H. pauciflorum has never been examined.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa