Gratiola brevifolia

Rafinesque

Atlantic J. 1: 176. 1833.

Common names: Sticky or short-leaf hedge-hyssop
Endemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 17. Treatment on page 266. Mentioned on page 265.

Perennials. Stems decumbent to ascending, simple or few- to much-branched, 20–60 cm, sparsely to moderately glandular-puberulent. Leaves: blade lanceolate to lanceolate-ovate or oblong, 8–25 × (1–)3–8(–13) mm, margins with (1 or)2–4 pairs of sharp teeth distally, apex acute, surfaces sparsely to densely glandular-puberulent. Pedicels slender, (5–)10–25(–30) mm, length 0.8–1.8 times bract, densely glandular-puberulent to glandular-pubescent; bracteoles (1 or)2, 4–4.5 mm. Flowers: sepals distinct, linear-lanceolate, 5–7 mm; corolla 10–13 mm, tube yellowish brown, veins yellow or brownish yellow, limb white; style 3–5 mm. Capsules subglobular to ovoid, 1.5–2.5 × 1–1.3 mm. Seeds 0.3–0.4 mm. 2n = 28.


Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Sandy pinelands, oak barrens, sandy stream banks.
Elevation: 0–200 m.

Distribution

Ala., Ark., Del., Fla., Ga., La., Okla., Tenn., Tex.

Discussion

Gratiola brevifolia is morphologically variable. In parts of its range, narrow-leaved plants approach G. ramosa and some broad-leaved plants approach G. viscidula. A population of G. brevifolia in Delaware is disjunct from the nearest conspecific population by more than 800 km (W. M. Knapp and D. Estes 2006).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.