Chorizanthe fimbriata
Chorizanthe polygonoides
fringe spineflower
knotweed spineflower
basal;
petiole 0.5–3(–5) cm;
blade elliptic to obovate or spatulate, 1–3(–3.5) × 0.2–1(–2.5) cm, thinly pubescent adaxially, sparsely tomentose abaxially.
basal;
petiole 0.5–1 cm;
blade oblanceolate to elliptic, 0.3–1 × 0.2–0.3 cm, thinly pubescent.
open, reddish;
bracts 3 at proximal node, otherwise 2, sessile, scalelike, linear, acicular, often acerose, 0.1–0.5 cm × 0.5–1 mm, awns straight, 1–2 mm.
with involucres in small clusters 0.5–1 cm across even at dichotomies, greenish or reddish;
bracts 2, petiolate or sessile, similar to proximal leaf blades, oblanceolate or narrowly elliptic to linear-lanceolate, 0.3–1 cm × 1–3 mm, awns absent.
1(–5+), reddish or greenish, cylindric, not ventricose, 4–6(–7) mm, finely corrugate, with thin hyaline margins between teeth, sparsely to densely pubescent;
teeth divergent, unequal, 3 longer ones 1–3 mm, alternating with 3 shorter ones 0.3–1 mm;
awns straight, unequal, 3 longer ones 1–2.5(–3) mm, shorter one (0.3–)0.5–1.5 mm.
1, greenish or reddish, campanulate, 5–6-ribbed, 1.5–2.5 mm, corrugate, thinly pubescent;
teeth 5–6, unequal, 3 longer ones 1.5–3 mm, these alternating with 2 or 3 shorter ones 1–2 mm, anterior tooth not leaflike;
awns of prominent teeth uncinate and 1.5–3 mm, those of shorter teeth straight and 1–2 mm.
exserted;
perianth bicolored, with floral tube yellow to yellowish white and tepals white to rose, becoming dark rose to red with age, cylindric, 6–9(–10) mm, glabrous abaxially except for few to several scattered hairs ca. midlength along midribs;
tepals connate 1/2 their length, monomorphic, oblong, fimbriate to laciniate apically;
stamens 9, included;
filaments distinct, 3–8 mm, glabrous;
anthers pink to red, oblong, 0.5–0.7 mm.
1, included to slightly exserted;
perianth white to rose, cylindric, 1.5–1.8(–2) mm, densely pubescent abaxially;
tepals connate 2/3 their length, monomorphic, oblong, obtuse to truncate or minutely emarginate apically;
stamens (6) 9, slightly exserted;
filaments distinct, 0.8–1 mm, glabrous;
anthers reddish, ovate, 0.2–0.3 mm.
brown, lenticular, 3–4 mm.
dark brown to black, 3-gonous, 2–2.5 mm.
Chorizanthe fimbriata
Chorizanthe polygonoides
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
Chorizanthe fimbriata is our only representative of subsect. Flava, a taxon of six species otherwise confined to Baja California. These are the most elegant of the annual species in their remarkable flowers. The flower color, the fine divisions of the tips of the tepals, plus the handsome habit make them of potential horticultural interest for the “need-to-be-challenged” gardeners. In addition to C. fimbriata var. laciniata, C. pulchella Brandegee would be a worthy introduction. Chorizanthe flava Brandegee has bright yellow flowers that contrast dramatically with its reddish mature inflorescence branches. The large (7–9 mm) flowers of C. mutabilis Brandegee are a wonder to behold, the yellow floral tube contrasting with the white to red of the tepals themselves.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Tepals fimbriate apically, distal segments linear to lanceolate, broader than lateral segments; perianths 6-7(-8) mm | var. fimbriata |
1. Tepals laciniate apically, distal segments linear, scarcely broader than lateral segments; perianths 8-9(-10) mm | var. laciniata |
1. Involucres 2-2.5 mm; awns of prominent involucral teeth 1.5-2 mm | var. polygonoides |
1. Involucres 1.5-2 mm; awns of prominent involucral teeth 2-3 mm | var. longispina |
CA
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
