Amsonia tabernaemontana
Amsonia kearneyana
eastern blue-star
Kearney's blue-star
erect (ascending), 27–102 cm, glabrous (sparsely pubescent);
branches borne on distal portion of stem, much exceeding infructescence.
erect, 39–62(–90) cm, moderately (densely or sparsely) long-pubescent;
branches borne on distal part of stem, often exceeding infructescence.
petiole 1.5–7(–9) mm, sparsely to moderately pubescent or glabrous;
blades not heteromorphic;
stem leaf blades lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, ovate, narrowly elliptic, or elliptic, (2.5–)3.3–12.5(–14.4) cm × (8–)11–50(–65) mm, margins entire to subentire, not to moderately revolute, ciliate or not, apex acuminate to acute (rarely with a rounded tip), surfaces sparsely pubescent abaxially (and sparsely scabrous or short-pubescent adaxially) or glabrous;
branch leaf blades similar to stem leaf blades.
petiole 1–3(–5) mm, densely to moderately pubescent (glabrous);
blades heteromorphic;
stem leaf blades lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate (narrowly oblong-elliptic), 5–7.6 cm × 11–17 mm, margins entire, often slightly revolute, ciliate with usually long cilia (rarely not ciliate), apex acute to acuminate, surfaces long-pubescent on midrib and main veins (rarely glabrous) adaxially;
branch leaf blades narrowly lanceolate, 4.3–5.7 cm × (3–)6–9 mm.
sepals deltate to narrowly deltate, (0.4–)0.5–1.8(–2.3) mm;
corolla tube bluish (rarely to lilac), sometimes greenish above, (5–)6–8(–8.8) mm, lobes pale blue (rarely to dark or lilac-blue or white), (5–)6–9.8(–12) mm, outer surface of corolla with 5 patches of long trichomes at corolla lobe bases and distal part of tube (very rarely glabrate).
sepals subulate, (3–)4–5(–6) mm;
corolla tube green to purplish, 12–14(–15) mm, lobes white, (2–)3–4 mm, outer surface of corolla glabrous.
(5–)5.5–10.8 × (1.2–)1.5–2.4(–3.3) mm.
6–11 × 3–4(–4.8) mm.
erect to pendulous (spreading), (5–)7–15 cm × 2.1–4(–4.2) mm, apex acuminate (acute), glabrous.
erect, 3–10 cm × 3.5–5.5 mm, apex short-acuminate, glabrous.
Amsonia tabernaemontana
Amsonia kearneyana
Varieties 4 (4 in the flora).
Amsonia tabernaemontana encompasses a great deal of morphological diversity, particularly in leaf size and shape and sepal indument and length, which is to some extent geographically correlated; therefore, the recognition of varieties seems desirable. However, the varieties are not well differentiated and tend to blend into one another, especially where their ranges overlap.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Amsonia kearneyana is endemic to the Baboquivari Mountains in Pima County; it is listed as endangered. The species is notable for its often densely long-pubescent pedicels and inflorescences and unusually short corolla lobes. These features are not unknown in the widespread and variable A. palmeri, although specimens of that species with corolla tubes longer than 12 mm are uncommon and typically have longer corolla lobes. The seeds of A. kearneyana are broader than those of any other species of subg. Sphinctosiphon.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Stems ascending (erect); stem leaf blades (2.5–)3.3–7.4 cm; sepals usually sparsely pubescent; e Texas, Oklahoma. | var. repens |
1. Stems erect; stem leaf blades (4–)6.5–12(–14.4) cm; sepals pubescent or glabrous; widespread in se to sc United States. | → 2 |
2. Sepals narrowly deltate or less often deltate, (0.5–)0.9–1.6(–1.9) mm, usually sparsely to moderately long-pubescent in flower (often becoming glabrous or glabrate in fruit); Illinois, Arkansas to Kansas, Oklahoma. | var. illustris |
2. Sepals deltate (seldom narrowly deltate), (0.4–)0.5–1.1(–1.6) mm, glabrous (glabrate with rare single hairs); widespread. | → 3 |
3. Stem leaf blades lanceolate to ovate, narrowly elliptic, or elliptic, (5.3–)8–12(–14) cm × (17–)24–50(–65) mm. | var. tabernaemontana |
3. Stem leaf blades narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate (or narrowly elliptic when young), (4–)6.5–10(–11.5) cm × 10–22(–25) mm. | var. salicifolia |
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