Lythrum californicum

Torrey & A. Gray

Fl. N. Amer. 1: 482. 1840.

Synonyms: Lythrum alatum var. breviflorum A. Gray L. alatum var. linearifolium A. Gray L. breviflorum (A. Gray) S. Watson L. linearifolium (A. Gray) Small L. parvulum Nieuwland L. sanfordii Greene
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 10.

Herbs perennial, slender, 5–10(–15) dm, whitish gray glaucous, glabrous. Stems erect, much-branched distally. Leaves mostly alternate, sometimes opposite proximally, branch leaves gradually smaller than those on main stem; sessile; blade oblong-lanceolate proximally, mostly linear or linear-oblong distally, 7–60 × 1–7 mm, base rounded. Inflorescences racemes. Flowers alternate, subsessile, pedicel stout, distylous; floral tube cylindrical, 5–7 × 1–1.5 mm; epicalyx segments equal or to 2 times length of sepals; petals bright rose purple, obovate, 4–6 × 2–4.5 mm; nectary encircling base of ovary; stamens 6. Capsules septicidal or septifragal. Seeds ca. 50, obovoid to fusiform. 2n = 20.


Phenology: Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat: Wet or moist soil, margins of ponds, streams, in ditches, on salt flats.
Elevation: 100–2200 m.

Distribution

Ariz., Calif., Kans., Nev., N.Mex., Okla., Utah, Tex., Mexico (Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León).

Discussion

Lythrum californicum sometimes is difficult to distinguish from L. alatum; it generally has a more open vegetative habit with narrowly linear leaves. Problematic intermediates between L. californicum and L. alatum var. alatum occur in Kansas and Oklahoma, and between L. alatum var. lanceolatum and L. californicum in Oklahoma and eastern Texas. Prior to the recent recognition of L. junceum in California, older collections were identified as L. californicum.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Lythrum californicum"
Shirley A. Graham +
Torrey & A. Gray +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, Kans. +, Nev. +, N.Mex. +, Okla. +, Utah +, Tex. +, Mexico (Baja California +, Chihuahua +, Coahuila +  and Nuevo León). +
100–2200 m. +
Wet or moist soil, margins of ponds, streams, in ditches, on salt flats. +
Flowering spring–fall. +
Fl. N. Amer. +
Lythrum alatum var. breviflorum +, L. alatum var. linearifolium +, L. breviflorum +, L. linearifolium +, L. parvulum +  and L. sanfordii +
Lythrum californicum +
species +