Oxytheca watsonii

Plants erect to spreading, 0.5–2.5 × 0.4–4 dm. Stems glandular throughout. Leaf blades spatulate or obovate to oblanceolate, 0.7–4 × (0.1–)0.5–1.2 cm, strigose adaxially, less so abaxially, sparsely glandular on both surfaces. Inflorescences open to densely branched, 0.5–2 dm; bracts 1–5 × 0.5–3 mm, 3(–5) at first node and linear to ovate, otherwise distinct or basally connate and linear to triangular, ciliate and glandular; awns 1–3 mm. Peduncles deflexed, stout, 0.2–0.5 cm at proximal nodes, sometimes absent. Involucres 1.5–2 mm, typically glabrous, rarely with few scattered hairs abaxially; teeth 4; awns reddish, 2.5–3 mm. Flowers 2–4(–7); perianth white to pink, 1–1.5 mm, strigose and sparsely glandular abaxially; tepals dimorphic, entire, those of outer whorl oval to ovate and strigose abaxially, those of inner elliptic to oval or ovate and glabrous or sometimes pubescent adaxially at base; filaments 1–1.5 mm, glabrous; anthers cream to red, oval, 0.2 mm. Achenes dark brown to maroon, 1–1.5 mm. 2n = 40.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Oct.
Habitat: Sandy flats and slopes, saltbush communities
Elevation: 1200-2000 m

Calif., Nev.

Discussion

Oxytheca watsonii is an uncommon species known only from scattered locations. The name was misapplied in pre-1980 California floras to Acanthoscyphus parishii var. goodmaniana.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa