Flora of North America species comparison

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Cicendia quadrangularis

American cicendia, common microcalis, Oregon timwort, square cicendia, timwort
Habit Herbs 1–9 cm.
Stem

1, branching at various levels in larger plants.
Leaves

basal often withered at flowering time, cauline spreading;

basal blades spatulate-obovate to oblanceolate or elliptic-oblong, 3–15 × 1–3 mm;

cauline blades narrowly elliptic-oblong to oblanceolate, 3.5–7 × 0.5–2 mm, base connate-sheathing 0.5 mm, apex obtuse to subacute.
Inflorescences

1–5-flowered;

pedicels 3–60 mm.
Flowers

calyx hemispheric, 2–7 mm, much exceeding corolla tube in diam., outer lobes proximally rhombic, distal portion triangular, apex acute, inner lobes proximally oblong, distal portion with strongly invaginated flanges, abruptly narrowed into ovate-triangular, cucullate, acuminate apex;

corolla 3–10 mm, lobes ovate-triangular to ovate-elliptic, 1–4 mm, apex rounded or abruptly acute.
2n

 = 26.

Cicendia quadrangularis
Phenology Flowering spring–early summer.
Habitat Grassy places, edges of vernal pools, other open habitats.
Elevation 0–2700 m. (0–8900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; OR; South America [Introduced in Australia]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

In the latter part of the life of the flower, the stamens of Cicendia quadrangularis arch over toward the stigmas, permitting self-pollination if outbreeding has not already occurred. The corollas close at night and in cloudy weather.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 14.
Parent taxa Gentianaceae > Cicendia
Synonyms Gentiana quadrangularis, Microcala quadrangularis
Name authority (Dombey ex Lamarck) Grisebach: Gen. Sp. Gent., 157. (1838)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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