Crocanthemum rosmarinifolium
Crocanthemum propinquum
rosemary frostweed
creeping frostweed, low frostweed
ascending to erect, (13–)20–40(–51) cm, stellate-tomentose.
scattered on horizontal rootstocks, ascending to erect, 10–27(–35) cm, stellate-pubescent to stellate-tomentose.
cauline and, sometimes, basal basal mat-forming;
petiole 1–3 mm;
blade obovate, 10–22 × 3–5 mm;
cauline: petiole 1–4 mm;
blade oblanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, 10–38(–48) × 2–5.5(–7.8) mm, margins revolute;
surfaces stellate-tomentose abaxially, stellate-pubescent adaxially, without simple hairs;
lateral veins obscure abaxially.
cauline;
petiole 2–5 mm;
blade narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, gradually narrowed to base, 10–30 × 3–6(–8) mm, surfaces stellate-tomentose abaxially, stellate-pubescent adaxially, without simple hairs, lateral veins raised abaxially.
axillary and terminal, solitary flowers or glomerules; chasmogamous flowers solitary, at tips of branches, overtopping cleistogamous, cleistogamous 2–7 per glomerule, flowering 1–3 months later than chasmogamous.
terminal, cymes; chasmogamous flowers 2–6 per cyme, cleistogamous in glomerules, 1–6 flowers per glomerule, on lateral leafy branches 1–3 cm, flowering 1–3 months later than chasmogamous.
10–22 mm;
bracts 3–7 × 0.5–1 mm.
(2–)8–14(–22) mm;
bracts 1.5–3.5 × 0.3 mm.
flowers: outer sepals linear, 1.2–2.5 × 0.2 mm, inner sepals 2.5–4.3 × 1.3–2 mm, apex acute;
petals obovate, 4–6 × 3.5–5 mm;
capsules 2–3 × 1.4–1.8 mm, glabrous.
flowers: outer sepals linear, 1–3(–4) × 0.4–0.9 mm, inner sepals ovate-elliptic, 5–8 × 2.3–4.5 mm, apex acute;
petals obovate, 8–10(–13) × 6–12 mm;
capsules 3.7–5.3 × 3–4 mm, glabrous.
flowers: outer sepals linear, 0.5–1 × 0.2 mm, inner sepals ovate, 1.5–1.8 × 1–1.5 mm, apex acute;
capsules 1.3–1.7 × 1–1.3 mm, glabrous.
flowers: outer sepals rudimentary, 0.2–0.5 × 0.2 mm, inner sepals ovate, 2–2.5 × 1.5–2.2 mm, apex acute;
capsules 1.5–2.2 × 1.3–2 mm, glabrous.
Crocanthemum rosmarinifolium
Crocanthemum propinquum
Crocanthemum rosmarinifolium is easily distinguished from sympatric species by its slender leaves, relatively small petaliferous flowers, occasional basal leaves, and overall pale color. As noted by R. M. Harper over a century ago, it seems not to occupy natural habitats and is found primarily on roadsides. Populations in the Dominican Republic occur up to at least 2200 m.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
The shorter stature, tiny outer sepals on cleistogamous flowers, and horizontal rootstocks distinguish Crocanthemum propinquum from C. bicknellii, which is often twice as tall, has elongate sepals, and has a caudex. Crocanthemum propinquum is disjunct from the coastal plain of Virginia to the southern Appalachian Mountains of Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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