The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links
Photo is of parent taxon

fringe spineflower, lace fringe spineflower, lacinate spineflower, laciniate spineflower

fringe spineflower

Habit Plants 1–2(–2.5) × 1–2 dm. Plants erect to spreading, 1–3(–3.5) × 1–2.5 dm, pubescent and minutely glandular.
Leaves

blades obovate or spatulate, 1–2(–3) × 0.2–1(–1.5) cm.

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.

Inflorescences

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.

Involucres

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.

Flowers

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.

Perianths

8–9(–10) mm;

tepals laciniate apically with distal segments linear, scarcely broader than lateral ones.

Achenes

brown, lenticular, 3–4 mm.

2n

= 40.

Chorizanthe fimbriata var. laciniata

Chorizanthe fimbriata

Phenology Flowering Mar–Jul.
Habitat Sandy to gravelly or rocky places, mixed grassland and chaparral communities, pine-oak woodlands
Elevation 400-1500 m (1300-4900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; Mexico (Baja California)
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; nw Mexico
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Variety laciniata is found from San Diego and western Imperial counties southward into Baja California. It can be weedy, especially in chaparral.

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

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.)

Key
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
Source FNA vol. 5, p. 465. FNA vol. 5, p. 465.
Parent taxa Polygonaceae > subfam. Eriogonoideae > Chorizanthe > subg. Amphietes > sect. Ptelosepala > Chorizanthe fimbriata Polygonaceae > subfam. Eriogonoideae > Chorizanthe > subg. Amphietes > sect. Ptelosepala
Sibling taxa
C. fimbriata var. fimbriata
C. angustifolia, C. biloba, C. blakleyi, C. brevicornu, C. breweri, C. clevelandii, C. corrugata, C. cuspidata, C. diffusa, C. douglasii, 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. fimbriata var. fimbriata, C. fimbriata var. laciniata
Synonyms C. laciniata
Name authority (Torrey) Jepson: Fl. Calif. 1: 394. (1914) Nuttall: Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 4: 17. (1848)
Web links