Microstachys
Microstachys corniculata
microstachys
hato tejas
erect.
alternate, simple;
stipules present, persistent;
petiole present, glands absent;
blade unlobed, margins serrulate [entire], laminar glands abaxial, at base [absent];
venation pinnate.
stipules triangular to rounded, 0.2–0.4 mm;
petiole 0.1–1.5 cm;
blade 2–4.5 × 0.3–2 cm, base cuneate to cordate, margins serrulate with proximal teeth occasionally replaced by orbicular glands, apex acute to acuminate.
appearing unisexual (pistillate and staminate portions usually shortly separated on stem), terminal, leaf-opposed, or axillary, racemelike thyrses;
glands subtending each bract [0] 2.
staminate portion on peduncle 1–2 mm, fertile part 0.5–1.5 cm, to 15 bracts and cymules, flowers 1–3 per bract;
pistillate portion with 1 flower;
bracts triangular, 0.2 mm, subtended by 2 stipitate glands to 0.2 mm diam.
present, often rudimentary.
0–0.2 mm, pistillate to 1 mm in fruit.
sepals 3, imbricate, distinct [connate basally];
petals 0;
nectary absent;
stamens 3, distinct;
pistillode absent.
sepals red-purple to greenish yellow, ovate, 0.3–0.5 mm;
stamens yellow;
filaments 0.2–0.3;
anthers 0.2 mm.
sepals 3, distinct;
petals 0;
nectary absent;
pistil 3-carpellate;
styles [0 or]3, connate basally, unbranched.
green;
sepals ovate, 0.2–0.5 mm;
ovary bearing short horned appendages;
styles 0.3–0.6 mm.
capsules, base not persisting.
subglobose, 3–4 mm diam.; horned appendages 2–3 per valve, to 1 mm.
oblong, ends truncate [elliptic];
outer seed coat dry;
caruncle present [absent].
3 × 2 mm;
seed coat brown, warty;
caruncle discoid, 0.5–0.8 mm diam., stipitate on projection of seed coat.
Microstachys
Microstachys corniculata
Species ca. 15 (1 in the flora).
Microstachys is distinct based on morphology and molecular phylogenetic evidence (H.-J. Esser 1998; K. Wurdack et al. 2005), although species have been included historically in Sebastiania. The inflorescence architecture characteristic of Microstachys is unusual: the pistillate and staminate parts are usually shortly separated along the main stem, appearing as two separate partial inflorescences at consecutive nodes, the pistillate one proximal and supra-axillary, and the staminate distal and leaf opposed. The genus is known primarily from the New World with a few species found in Africa, Asia, and Australia.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Microstachys corniculata is a weedy species that is adventive and becoming established in Hillsborough County. It has the potential to become broadly naturalized across subtropical parts of the United States. Because this species is widespread in the West Indies, including Cuba, a 1906 collection from Key West may represent a native occurrence.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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