Comandra umbellata
Comandra
bastard toad-flax (var. umbellata), bastard-toadflax, California comandra (var. Californica), pale comandra (var. pallida)
bastard toadflax
somewhat woody, white to beige or blue (then drying blackish), cortex corky or papery, loose exfoliating.
blades light green to grayish or bluish green, lanceolate, elliptic, or ovate, 0.7–5.3 cm, apex obtuse, acute, or acuminate.
petiole short or absent.
terminal, paniclelike or corymblike thyrses;
cymules 3–5-flowered;
prophyllar bracteole subtending each flower persistent.
present.
hypanthium base not dilated.
bisexual, campanulate;
hypanthium adnate to ovary proximally, free distally, funnel-shaped;
petals (4–)5(–7), white, yellowing with age, ovate or oblong to lanceolate, reflexed upon maturation;
nectary lining hypanthium, lobes small, alternating with filaments;
styles filiform;
stigmas capitate.
usually multiple, petals persistent, forming neck at apex;
exocarp leathery.
Comandra umbellata
Comandra
Subspecies 4 (3 in the flora).
Comandra umbellata is likely the most widespread Santalales species, occurring throughout the United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico as well as in the Balkan peninsula, where subsp. elegans (Rochel ex Reichenbach) Piehl occurs. Comandra umbellata is the alternate host for comandra blister rust (Cronartium comandrae), which damages pines in North America.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Species 1.
Circumscription of species within Comandra has varied, as have opinions about whether Geocaulon is distinct. C. L. Hitchcock and A. Cronquist (1973) considered Geocaulon as a species of Comandra, whereas M. L. Fernald (1950) recognized separate genera. The treatment here follows the most comprehensive study of Comandra to date (M. A. Piehl 1965), which recognized a single variable species with four subspecies.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Leaf blades thin, green, not glaucous; pseudodrupes 4–6 mm; rhizome cortex white to beige; Canada, c, e United States. | subsp. umbellata |
1. Leaves thin or thick, becoming ± succulent, green to grayish or bluish green, glaucous; pseudodrupes 5–9 mm; rhizome cortex blue, drying blackish; w North America. | → 2 |
2. Leaf blade lateral veins obscure on abaxial surface; proximal part of aerial stems not overwintering; herbs 5–33 cm. | subsp. pallida |
2. Leaf blade lateral veins apparent on abaxial surface; proximal part of aerial stems overwintering; subshrubs 15–40 cm. | subsp. californica |
- Local floras:
BC, 
OR, 
WA - Local Web sites:
CalFlora, CalPhotos, 
Flora NW, 
Go Botany, 
IL Wildflowers, 
KS Wildflowers, 
MD Biodiversity, 
MI Flora, 
MN Wildflowers, 
MO Plants, 
PNW Herbaria, Turner Photog. 
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist (observations)
USDA Plants Database- LBJ Wildflower Center
- SEINet
- Plants of the World Online
- Encyclopedia of Life
- Wikipedia
- Google Image Search
