Nolina microcarpa
Nolina cismontana
beargrass, palmilla, sacahuista
chaparral beargrass, chaparral nolina, Peninsular beargrass
to 3 dm, occasionally to 15 dm.
blades wiry, lax, concavo-convex, 80–130 cm 5–12 mm, not glaucous;
margins serrulate, with close-set, cartilaginous teeth;
apex lacerate;
inflorescence leaf blades curling distally, 10–50 cm.
30–90 per rosette;
blade wiry, upright, or lax, 50–140 cm × 12–30 mm, occasionally glaucous;
bases broad, spoon-shaped, 30–85 mm;
margins serrulate, not filiferous.
3–15 dm, 1.2–2.5 cm diam.
4–15 dm, 14–35 mm diam. at base.
paniculate, 4–12 dm × 10–30 cm, surpassing leaves;
bracts caducous, rarely persistent;
bractlets 2–5 mm, slightly erose.
compound paniculate, 9–18 dm × 10–40 cm;
bracts persistent, conspicuous;
bractlets laciniate.
tepals white, 1.5–3.3 mm;
fertile stamens: filaments 1.6–1.9 mm, anthers 1.2–1.4 mm;
infertile stamens: filaments 0.9–1.2 mm, anthers 0.3–0.5 mm; fruiting pedicel erect, proximal to joint 1–2 mm, distal to joint 3–6 mm.
tepals 2–5 mm;
fertile stamens: filaments 2–4 mm, anthers to 1.2 mm;
infertile stamens: filaments 1–1.2 mm, anthers 0.4–0.6 mm;
pedicel erect, proximal to joint to 2 mm, distal to joint 1–3 mm.
hyaline, thin-walled, inflated, 4.2–6 × 5.4–6.4 mm, indistinctly notched at apex.
thin-walled, 8.2–11.2 × 9–12 mm, notched basally and apically.
loosely invested in capsules, compressed, 2.2–3.4 × 1.5–3 mm.
reddish brown, ovoid, bursting ovary wall, 4–5 3–4 mm.
= 38.
Nolina microcarpa
Nolina cismontana
D. S. Correll and M. C. Johnston (1970) included Nolina microcarpa in their flora of Texas; however, they reported that they had seen no specimen from that state, nor have I. This species is found primarily from western New Mexico through central Arizona. It forms large clumps up to 2 m in diameter and inflorescences that generally are exserted from the basal leaf rosettes. Considerable variation occurs, some of it geographically restricted to southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Most such plants from the latter areas have been referred to N. texana or N. caudata, but are here included in N. microcarpa. In the Grand Canyon area, there are variants that have been referred to N. parryi because in width the leaves approach those of N. parryi and they are serrulate. These plants, however, are acaulescent and also are here included in N. microcarpa. B. J. Albee et al. (1988) reported N. microcarpa on rocky slopes in canyons in Washington County, Utah, but the more recent online version of that work excludes it from Utah.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Of conservation concern.
P. A. Munz and J. C. Roos (1950) mistakenly believed that this coastal entity was the basis of Nolina parryi S. Watson (J. C. Dice 1988). Dice determined that it is not “typical” N. parryi and is sufficiently distinct to recognize separately. Few populations of N. cismontana exist, and they are of conservation concern.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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