FNA: Cordylanthus rigidus subsp. littoralis vs. Cordylanthus

Phenology

Flowering Jul–Sep.

Habitat

Dunes.

Elevation

0–200 m. (0–700 ft.)

Distribution

CA

[BONAP county map]

w United States; nw Mexico

[BONAP county map]

Discussion

Subspecies littoralis grows only in the coastal dunes of the central coast in Monterey and Santa Barbara counties. It intergrades with subsp. rigidus. It is not known if this subspecies is genetically distinct or if its distinguishing features are caused by the unusual habitat where the plants grow.

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

Species 13 (13 in the flora).

Cordylanthus is similar to Orthocarpus but differs in having spathelike calyces deeply cut along one side and narrowly lanceolate, entire bracteoles subtending each flower. Also, the abaxial lip of Orthocarpus is spreading; it usually is appressed to the adaxial lip in Cordylanthus. The mature flowers often appear to be buds.

Cordylanthus is sometimes defined to include Dicranostegia and Chloropyron as subgenera (T. I. Chuang and L. R. Heckard 1986). D. C. Tank et al. (2009) found that those genera are a sister group of Triphysaria. The monograph by Chuang and Heckard provided the basis for most of the species delineation presented here.

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

Key

1. Stamens 2, filaments glabrous; calyx apices 2-fid, cleft 3–5 mm.	C. capitatus
1. Stamens 4, filaments hairy; calyx apices entire or 2-fid, cleft 0–3 mm.	→ 2
2. Bract margins 5–7-lobed, flabelliform; corollas 8–9 mm.	C. pringlei
2. Bract margins entire, 3-lobed, or (4 or)5–9-lobed, not flabelliform; corollas 10–30 mm.	→ 3
3. Fertile pollen sacs 1 per filament.	→ 4
4. Calyx apices 2-fid; bracts green or purple distally; abaxial corolla lips 7–10 mm, slightly spreading.	C. laxiflorus
4. Calyx apices entire; bracts white to cream distally; abaxial corolla lips 3–5 mm, appressed to adaxial.	C. nevinii
3. Fertile pollen sacs 2 per filament.	→ 5
5. Stems decumbent, 5–10(–15) cm; corollas white with purple veins.	C. nidularius
5. Stems erect or ascending, 10–150 cm; corollas pale or bright yellow, yellow, yellow-green, pale pink, lavender-pink, pink, purple, purple-pink, or purple-red.	→ 6
6. Bract margins (4 or)5–9-lobed.	→ 7
7. Calyx tubes 0 mm; fertile pollen sacs unequal.	C. ramosus
7. Calyx tubes 1–4 mm; fertile pollen sacs equal.	→ 8
8. Corollas 10–20 mm, throats 4–6 mm diam.; calyx tubes 1–3 mm; capsules 7–10 mm.	C. eremicus
8. Corollas 15–30 mm, throats 6–8 mm diam.; calyx tubes 3–4 mm; capsules 10–15 mm.	C. wrightii
6. Bract margins entire or 3-lobed.	→ 9
9. Calyx tubes 5–8 mm; corolla abaxial lips shorter than and not appressed to adaxial.	C. parviflorus
9. Calyx tubes 0–2.5 mm; corolla abaxial lips ca. equal to and appressed to adaxial.	→ 10
10. Calyx apices 2-fid, clefts 2–3 mm; bracteole margins pinnately lobed.	C. kingii
10. Calyx apices entire or 2-fid, clefts 0.5–1 mm; bracteole margins entire or toothed.	→ 11
11. Calyx tubes 1–2 mm; inflorescences (2–)5–15-flowered; corollas with abaxial, U-shaped, purple markings.	C. rigidus
11. Calyx tubes 0–1 mm; inflorescences 2–7-flowered, or flowers solitary; corollas streaked and spotted with maroon or marked with purple.	→ 12
12. Stems densely puberulent and glandular-puberulent, and pilose; abaxial corolla lips 5–10 mm.	C. pilosus
12. Stems glabrous or sparsely glandular-puberulent, puberulent, and/or pilose; abaxial corolla lips 4–6 mm.	C. tenuis