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Mojave spineflower

Blakley's spineflower

Habit Plants spreading to prostrate, 0.3–0.8(–1) × 0.5–8 dm. Plants spreading to ascending, 0.5–1.5 × 0.5–3 dm, thinly pubescent.
Leaves

basal;

petiole 0.5–2 cm;

blade (0.3–)0.5–1.5(–2) × (3–)5–10(–12) mm, thinly pubescent adaxially, more densely so to tomentose abaxially.

basal;

petiole 0.5–2 cm;

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

Inflorescences

greenish to reddish, mostly flat-topped and open to dense;

bracts 3, whorled, short-petiolate, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, acerose, 0.5–1.5 cm × 3–8(–10) mm, awns straight, 1–3.5 mm.

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.

Involucres

usually congested in small terminal clusters of 1–3 at node of dichotomies, (4–)5-ribbed, weakly 3-angled, 2–2.5 mm, not corrugate, densely canescent;

teeth (4–)5, essentially erect with longer, prominent, and thickened anterior one 2–4 mm, with straight awn 1–2.5 mm, remaining teeth smaller, 0.5–1 mm, with straight awns 0.3–0.8 mm.

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.

Flowers

1, exserted;

perianth, cylindric, 2.5–3.5 mm;

tepals connate 1/2–2/3 their length, dimorphic, entire, those of outer whorl spreading, broadly obovate and rounded apically, those of inner whorl erect, narrowly oblanceolate, 1/2 length of outer ones, acute apically;

stamens slightly exserted;

filaments 2.5–3 mm, glabrous;

anthers yellowish, oblong, 0.5–0.7 mm.

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.

Achenes

2.5–3 mm.

brown, globose-lenticular, 3–3.5 mm.

2n

= (40), 44, (46).

= ca. 38.

Chorizanthe spinosa

Chorizanthe blakleyi

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jul. Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat Sandy to gravelly flats and slopes, saltbush communities Sandy or gravelly flats and slopes, chaparral communities, oak woodlands
Elevation 600-1300 m (2000-4300 ft) 600-1600 m (2000-5200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

G. J. Goodman (1934) referred Chorizanthe spinosa to Eriogonella, but C. spinosa and C. membranacea, the type of Eriogonella, are well isolated from one another, and both are well removed from the remainder of the annual spineflowers. The Mojave spineflower is local and uncommon from southeastern Kern and southern Inyo counties, south into adjacent northeastern Los Angeles and northwestern San Bernardino counties to Antelope and Lucerne valleys.

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

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.)

Source FNA vol. 5, p. 449. FNA vol. 5, p. 459.
Parent taxa Polygonaceae > subfam. Eriogonoideae > Chorizanthe > subg. Quintaria Polygonaceae > subfam. Eriogonoideae > Chorizanthe > subg. Amphietes > sect. Ptelosepala
Sibling taxa
C. angustifolia, C. biloba, 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. staticoides, C. stellulata, C. uniaristata, C. valida, C. ventricosa, C. watsonii, C. wheeleri, C. xanti
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
Synonyms Eriogonella spinosa
Name authority S. Watson: in W. H. Brewer et al., Bot. California 2: 481. (1880) Hardham: Leafl. W. Bot. 10: 95. (1964)
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