Flora of North America species comparison

erect, incurved ascending.

(1.5–)2–8(–9)[15–21] cm;

petiole (1.5–)2–7 mm;

extrafloral nectary 1(or 2), near mid petiole, stipitate;

leaflets (6–)8–28(–32)[–40] pairs, blades usually straight, sometimes falcate, linear, narrowly oblong, or oblong-elliptic, (3–)4–26 × 1–3 mm.

1(or 2)-flowered, axillary.

0.5–4[–16] mm;

bracteoles mid pedicel.

calyx greenish, sepal venation reticulate;

corolla yellow, sometimes fading pinkish, petals to 3.5–8(–9)[–16] mm;

stamens [2–]4–8[or 9];

anthers yellow-orange or red, to (1.4–)1.6–3[–9.5] mm, different sizes;

ovary usually hairy throughout, rarely glabrate.

straight, linear-oblong, [14–](15–)18–48(–56)[–78] × [2.4–]2.5–5.5(–5.8) mm.

[1.9–](2.2–)2.4–3.4[–3.7] mm.

chamaecristoides appears to be one of the first flowering plants to colonize coastal sand dunes (especially in the Gulf of Mexico), where it contributes to decreased sand movement, ultimately stabilizing the dunes (M.

.

and P.

-Casasola 1998).

varieties are recognized in C. chamaecristoides.

var. cruziana is an annual herb that sometimes survives the winter, the other two varieties, var. brandegeei (Britton & Rose) H.

.

& Barneby and var. chamaecristoides, are perennials that occur only in Mexico and differ from each other and var. cruziana in the width of their pods, 3–4 mm and 5–6 mm, respectively.