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short-leaf hedge-hyssop, sticky hedge-hyssop

limestone hedge-hyssop, Quarterman's hedge-hyssop

Habit Perennials. Annuals.
Stems

decumbent to ascending, simple or few- to much-branched, 20–60 cm, sparsely to moderately glandular-puberulent.

erect, simple or few-branched, (7–)10–21(–30) cm, glabrous or glabrate proximally, sparsely glandular-puberulent distally.

Leaves

blade lanceolate to lanceolate-ovate or oblong, 8–25 × (1–)3–8(–13) mm, margins with (1 or)2–4 pairs of sharp teeth distally, apex acute, surfaces sparsely to densely glandular-puberulent.

blade linear to linear-lanceolate or lanceolate-elliptic, often falcate, (16–)18–30(–43) × (1–)2.5–5 mm, margins entire or with 1 or 2(or 3) pairs of blunt teeth distally, apex obtuse to acute, surfaces glabrous or glabrate.

Pedicels

slender, (5–)10–25(–30) mm, length 0.8–1.8 times bract, densely glandular-puberulent to glandular-pubescent;

bracteoles (1 or)2, 4–4.5 mm.

slender, 7–14(–22) mm, length 0.5–1(–1.6) times bract, sparsely glandular-puberulent;

bracteoles 2, 2–4.5 mm.

Flowers

sepals distinct, linear-lanceolate, 5–7 mm;

corolla 10–13 mm, tube yellowish brown, veins yellow or brownish yellow, limb white;

style 3–5 mm.

sepals distinct, lanceolate, 2.7–5 mm;

corolla 7–9 mm, tube and limb white tinged with pink or purple, veins white to greenish white or lavender;

style 3–4.6 mm.

Capsules

subglobular to ovoid, 1.5–2.5 × 1–1.3 mm.

ovoid, 3.4–5.1 × 3–4.5 mm.

Seeds

0.3–0.4 mm.

0.4–0.7 mm.

2n

= 28.

Gratiola brevifolia

Gratiola quartermaniae

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jun. Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat Sandy pinelands, oak barrens, sandy stream banks. Seeps, pools, and streams in limestone and dolomite glades, alvars, calcareous grasslands.
Elevation 0–200 m. (0–700 ft.) 50–300 m. (200–1000 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; DE; FL; GA; LA; OK; TN; TX
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; IL; KY; TN; TX; ON
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Gratiola brevifolia is morphologically variable. In parts of its range, narrow-leaved plants approach G. ramosa and some broad-leaved plants approach G. viscidula. A population of G. brevifolia in Delaware is disjunct from the nearest conspecific population by more than 800 km (W. M. Knapp and D. Estes 2006).

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

Populations of Gratiola quartermaniae are concentrated in northern Alabama and central Tennessee. Disjunct populations are known from the Edwards Plateau of Texas, Will County, Illinois, and southeastern Ontario. D. Estes and R. L. Small (2007) discussed the distribution and ecology of G. quartermaniae.

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 266. FNA vol. 17, p. 268.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Gratiola Plantaginaceae > Gratiola
Sibling taxa
G. amphiantha, G. ebracteata, G. floridana, G. graniticola, G. heterosepala, G. lutea, G. neglecta, G. quartermaniae, G. ramosa, G. torreyi, G. virginiana, G. viscidula
G. amphiantha, G. brevifolia, G. ebracteata, G. floridana, G. graniticola, G. heterosepala, G. lutea, G. neglecta, G. ramosa, G. torreyi, G. virginiana, G. viscidula
Name authority Rafinesque: Atlantic J. 1: 176. (1833) D. Estes: J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 1: 163, figs. 3C,F, 8. (2007)
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