Peritoma serrulata

(Pursh) de Candolle

in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 1: 237. 1824.

Common names: Rocky Mountain bee-plant guaco
Basionym: Cleome serrulata Pursh Fl. Amer. Sept. 2: 441. 1813
Synonyms: Cleome serrulata subsp. angusta (M. E. Jones) Tidestrom Peritoma inornata Peritoma serrulata var. albiflora Cockerell Peritoma serrulata var. clavata Lunell
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 7. Treatment on page 207. Mentioned on page 205.

Annuals, 30–80 cm. Stems sparsely branched; glabrous or glabrate. Leaves: (stipules bristlelike), petiole 1.5–3.5 cm; leaflets 3, blade elliptic, 2–6 × 0.6–1.5 cm, margins entire, weakly sinuate, or serrulate, apex acute, long-acuminate, or mucronate, surfaces glabrate (margins with sparse, relatively long hairs when young). Racemes 1–4 cm (4–30 cm in fruit); bracts unifoliate, obovate, 4–22 mm. Pedicels (green to purple), 8–20 mm. Flowers: sepals persistent, connate 1/2–2/3 of length, purple to green, lanceolate, 1.7–4 × 1–2 mm, margins denticulate, glabrous; petals purple (rarely white), oblong to ovate, 7–12 × 3–6 mm; stamens purple, 18–24 mm; anthers (green), 2–2.3 mm; gynophore 1–15 mm in fruit; ovary 5–7 mm; style 0.1–0.5 mm. Capsules (erect) not inflated, 23–76 × 3–6(–7) mm, striate, (glabrous). Seeds 12–38, black, globose or horseshoe-shaped, 2.8–4 × 2.5–3 mm, rugose. 2n = 34, 60.


Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Shortgrass and mixed grass prairies, pastures, pinyon pine and juniper woodland, desert scrub, roadsides, stabilized sand dunes
Elevation: (100-) 300-2500(-2900) m

Distribution

V7 277-distribution-map.gif

Alta., B.C., Man., Ont., Sask., Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mo., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.Mex., N.Dak., Ohio, Okla., Oreg., S.Dak., Tex., Utah, Wash., Wyo.

Discussion

Most collections of Peritoma serrulata from the northeastern and midwestern United States apparently represent non-persistent waifs or garden escapes. The species has been cultivated as a source of nectar for honeybees since ca. 1880 (L. H. Bailey 1900–1902). It shows considerable variation in fruit size, even within populations. The variation may reflect environmental influences, especially water availability, rather than genetics (H. H. Iltis 1952).

The seeds and leaves of Peritoma serrulata are consumed by the Navajo as food and provide a source of black dye. The leaves have been used as a remedy for insect bites, inflammation, and intestinal upsets (L. S. M. Curtin 1947).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Peritoma serrulata"
Staria S. Vanderpool +  and Hugh H. Iltis +
(Pursh) de Candolle +
Cleome serrulata +
Rocky Mountain bee-plant +  and guaco +
Alta. +, B.C. +, Man. +, Ont. +, Sask. +, Ariz. +, Calif. +, Colo. +, Idaho +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Iowa +, Kans. +, Mass. +, Mich. +, Minn. +, Mo. +, Mont. +, Nebr. +, Nev. +, N.Mex. +, N.Dak. +, Ohio +, Okla. +, Oreg. +, S.Dak. +, Tex. +, Utah +, Wash. +  and Wyo. +
(100-) 300-2500(-2900) m +
Shortgrass and mixed grass prairies, pastures, pinyon pine and juniper woodland, desert scrub, roadsides, stabilized sand dunes +
Flowering summer. +
in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. +
Cleome serrulata subsp. angusta +, Peritoma inornata +, Peritoma serrulata var. albiflora +  and Peritoma serrulata var. clavata +
Peritoma serrulata +
Peritoma +
species +