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Blakley's spineflower

two lobed spineflower, twolobe spineflower

Habit Plants spreading to ascending, 0.5–1.5 × 0.5–3 dm, thinly pubescent. Plants erect or infrequently spreading, (0.5–)1–3(–4) × 1–3(–4) dm, pubescent.
Leaves

basal;

petiole 0.5–2 cm;

blade oblanceolate, 0.5–2.5 × 0.3–0.8 cm, thinly pubescent.

basal;

petiole 0.5–3 cm;

blade oblanceolate, 1–3(–5) × 0.4–1(–1.3) cm, thinly pubescent.

Inflorescences

with involucres in dense clusters 1–2 cm diam., yellowish green;

bracts 2, without whorl of sessile bracts about midstem, usually leaflike, oblanceolate, 0.5–1.5 cm × 1.5–3 mm, gradually reduced and becoming scalelike at distal nodes, linear, aciculate, acerose, 0.3–0.8 cm × 1–2 mm, awns straight, 1–2.5 mm.

with involucres in open clusters 2–4(–6) cm diam., greenish or reddish to purplish;

bracts 2–3 at proximal node, usually leaflike, often with whorl of sessile bracts ca. midstem, elliptic, 0.5–1.5 cm × 2–6 mm, gradually becoming lanceolate to elliptic, 0.2–2 cm × 1.5–8 mm, at distal nodes scalelike, linear and aciculate, acerose, awns straight, 1–3 mm.

Involucres

3–10+, yellowish green, urceolate, slightly ventricose basally, 3–4.5 mm, slightly corrugate, without scarious or membranous margins, thinly pubescent;

teeth spreading, unequal, 1–3 mm;

awns straight or uncinate with longer anterior one straight or slightly curved, mostly 2 mm, others uncinate, 0.5–1.5 mm.

3–10 or more, grayish or reddish, urceolate and slightly ventricose basally, 4–6 mm, without scarious or membranous margins, slightly corrugate, strigose;

teeth erect to spreading, unequal, 1–2 mm;

awns mostly uncinate, 0.5–2 mm, with longer anterior one straight, mostly 2 mm.

Flowers

exserted;

perianth bicolored with floral tube greenish white to white and the lobes white to pinkish, cylindric, 5–6 mm, sparsely pubescent;

tepals connate 2/3 their length, dimorphic, obovate, those of outer whorl erect, slightly longer than those of inner whorl, 2-lobed apically, those of inner whorl erect, 2-lobed, erose apically;

stamens 9, included;

filaments distinct, 5–5.5 mm, glabrous;

anthers yellow to golden, oblong, 1–1.2 mm.

exserted;

perianth bicolored with floral tube white to yellow and tepals red, maroon, or dark purple, cylindric, (4.5–)5–6 mm, sparsely pubescent;

tepals connate 1/2 their length, dimorphic, obovate, those of outer whorl spreading, slightly longer than those of inner whorl, 2-lobed, emarginate, or subacute apically, those of inner whorl erect, obtuse, fimbriate apically;

stamens 9, exserted;

filaments distinct, 4–5 mm, glabrous;

anthers yellow to golden, oblong, 1.2–1.8 mm.

Achenes

brown, globose-lenticular, 3–3.5 mm.

brown, globose-lenticular, 4–4.5 mm.

2n

= ca. 38.

= (34, 36, 38), 40, (42, 44, 46).

Chorizanthe blakleyi

Chorizanthe biloba

Phenology Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat Sandy or gravelly flats and slopes, chaparral communities, oak woodlands
Elevation 600-1600 m (2000-5200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Chorizanthe blakleyi is known only from north-facing slopes and foothills of the Sierra Madre. The species is rare and localized. The yellowish green stem, branches, and involucres readily distinguish it. The white flowers align it with C. obovata.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Unlike the serpentine species Chorizanthe palmeri and C. ventricosa, C. biloba occurs on gravelly or clayey soils. Those species and C. obovata can be quickly differentiated by carefully examining the colors, shapes, and modifications of the tepals. Immature specimens can be difficult to place, but a combination of geographic location and edaphic features can often enable accurate identification of even fragmentary material.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Key
1. Outer tepals deeply 2-lobed, occasionally erose apically
var. biloba
1. Outer tepals emarginate or subcordate apically
var. immemora
Source FNA vol. 5, p. 459. FNA vol. 5, p. 458.
Parent taxa Polygonaceae > subfam. Eriogonoideae > Chorizanthe > subg. Amphietes > sect. Ptelosepala Polygonaceae > subfam. Eriogonoideae > Chorizanthe > subg. Amphietes > sect. Ptelosepala
Sibling taxa
C. angustifolia, C. biloba, C. brevicornu, C. breweri, C. clevelandii, C. corrugata, C. cuspidata, C. diffusa, C. douglasii, C. fimbriata, C. howellii, C. leptotheca, C. membranacea, C. obovata, C. orcuttiana, C. palmeri, C. parryi, C. polygonoides, C. procumbens, C. pungens, C. rectispina, C. rigida, C. robusta, C. spinosa, C. staticoides, C. stellulata, C. uniaristata, C. valida, C. ventricosa, C. watsonii, C. wheeleri, C. xanti
C. angustifolia, C. blakleyi, C. brevicornu, C. breweri, C. clevelandii, C. corrugata, C. cuspidata, C. diffusa, C. douglasii, C. fimbriata, C. howellii, C. leptotheca, C. membranacea, C. obovata, C. orcuttiana, C. palmeri, C. parryi, C. polygonoides, C. procumbens, C. pungens, C. rectispina, C. rigida, C. robusta, C. spinosa, C. staticoides, C. stellulata, C. uniaristata, C. valida, C. ventricosa, C. watsonii, C. wheeleri, C. xanti
Subordinate taxa
C. biloba var. biloba, C. biloba var. immemora
Synonyms C. palmeri var. biloba
Name authority Hardham: Leafl. W. Bot. 10: 95. (1964) Goodman: Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 21: 73. (1934)
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