Comandra umbellata
Comandra umbellata subsp. pallida
bastard toad-flax (var. umbellata), bastard-toadflax, California comandra (var. Californica), pale comandra (var. pallida)
bastard toad flax, pale comandra
cortex blue, drying blackish.
often much branched;
proximal portions not overwintering.
blades light green to grayish or bluish green, lanceolate, elliptic, or ovate, 0.7–5.3 cm, apex obtuse, acute, or acuminate.
blade green to grayish green, glaucous, linear to lanceolate, elliptic, or ovate, 0.9–4.2 cm, thick, firm, becoming ± succulent, base attenuate to cuneate, margins not revolute, apex attenuate to acute, often mucronulate or apiculate;
midrib obscure or sometimes conspicuous or protruding on abaxial surface, lateral veins obscure.
0–1.6 mm.
hypanthium base not dilated.
funnel-shaped to rotate;
petals oblong to lanceolate-oblong, 2.5–5 mm;
anthers 0.7 mm.
purplish brown to red, glaucous, subglobose to ovate, 5.5–9 mm, slightly roughened.
= 52.
Comandra umbellata
Comandra umbellata subsp. pallida
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.)
As with the other subspecies, subsp. pallida is morphologically variable, this likely related to its diverse ecological habitats. Clinal variation and intergradation with the other subspecies that flank its eastern and western boundaries may also play a role (M. A. Piehl 1965). Intermediates between subsp. pallida and subsp. californica occur in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Ecotypic variation apparently has a genetic component, as demonstrated by common garden experiments with seeds and vegetative propagules (Piehl). One extreme but widespread form is highly branched basally and has dimorphic leaves, with the proximal blades linear and the distal blades lanceolate or elliptic.
(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
SW CO Wildflowers
