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alkali cleomella, alkali stinkweed, twisted cleomella

short-pedicelled cleomella, shortstalk cleomella, shortstalk stinkweed

Habit Plants 10–55(–85) cm. Plants 3–15(–35) cm.
Stems

sparsely branched distally (central stem dominant); glabrous.

profusely branched (erect or spreading and matlike); glaucous, scabrous.

Leaves

stipules (scarious) 0.5–1 mm;

petiole 0.8–2 cm;

leaflet blade linear-elliptic, 1.5–4.5 × 0.2–0.7 cm, thin, margins entire, apex acute, surfaces glabrous.

stipules finely divided into crinkled threads, 2 mm;

petiole 0.1–0.3 cm;

leaflet blade linear-obovate, 0.5–1.5 × 0.1–0.3 cm, fleshy, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute, mucronate, surfaces scabrous.

Inflorescences

racemes, terminating stems and branches, 1–15 cm (2–20 cm in fruit);

bracts unifoliate, 5–25 mm.

solitary flowers in axils of closely spaced leaves throughout;

bracts unifoliate, 8–10 mm.

Pedicels

ascending in fruit, 5–10 mm (6–12 mm in fruit).

reflexed in fruit, 1–2 mm.

Flowers

sepals green, lanceolate, 0.9–2.2 × 0.5–0.7 mm, glabrous;

petals yellow or orange, oblong, 3.5–5(–7) × 1.4–1.6(–2) mm, hairy abaxially;

stamens yellow, 8–12 mm;

anthers 1.5–1.9 mm;

gynophore ascending, 6–10 mm in fruit;

ovary rhomboidal, 1–1.5 mm;

style 0.8–1.2 mm.

sepals green, ovate, 0.8–1.2 × 0.3–0.7 mm, glabrous;

petals pale yellow, oblong, 1.5–2 × 0.5–1 mm, glabrous;

stamens yellow, 1.5–2.2 mm;

anthers 0.3–0.5 mm;

gynophore strongly reflexed, 0.5–3 mm in fruit;

ovary globose, 1–1.5 mm;

style 2–3(–5) mm.

Capsules

ovoid to rhomboidal, 2.5–5 × 2.5–6(–8) mm, glabrous.

globose or deltoid, 2–3 × 2–3.2 mm, glabrous, (valves triangular).

Seeds

2–4, silver-gray with black mottling, globose, 2–2.2 mm, smooth.

1–4, yellowish, globose, 1.3–1.7 mm, smooth.

Cleomella plocasperma

Cleomella brevipes

Phenology Flowering mid spring–fall. Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat Wet alkaline meadows, greasewood flats, around thermal springs Alkaline marshes, wet saline soils around thermal springs
Elevation 800-1400 m (2600-4600 ft) 400-1400 m (1300-4600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; ID; NV; OR; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; NV
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Source FNA vol. 7, p. 213. FNA vol. 7, p. 210.
Parent taxa Cleomaceae > Cleomella Cleomaceae > Cleomella
Sibling taxa
C. angustifolia, C. brevipes, C. hillmanii, C. longipes, C. obtusifolia, C. palmeriana, C. parviflora
C. angustifolia, C. hillmanii, C. longipes, C. obtusifolia, C. palmeriana, C. parviflora, C. plocasperma
Synonyms C. oöcarpa, C. plocasperma var. mojavensis, C. plocasperma var. stricta
Name authority S. Watson: Botany (Fortieth Parallel), 33. (1871) S. Watson: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 17: 365. (1882)
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