Pectis prostrata
Pectis linearifolia
spreading chinchweed, spreading cinchweed
Florida chinchweed, Florida cinchweed
prostrate to ascending (often mat-forming, densely leafy, especially distally), puberulent (in lines or throughout).
decumbent to erect (very leafy), glabrous or puberulent (in decurrent lines).
linear to narrowly oblanceolate, 10–40 × 1.5–7 mm, margins with 4–12 pairs of setae 1–3 mm, faces glabrous (abaxial densely dotted with round oil-glands 0.1–0.3 mm).
linear, 10–50 × 1–3 mm, margins with 2–6 pairs of setae, faces glabrous (abaxial dotted submarginally with round oil-glands 0.2–0.5 mm).
1–2 mm.
0–1 mm.
campanulate, cylindric, or ellipsoid.
narrowly campanulate to cylindric.
5;
corollas 2.5–3.5 mm (scarcely surpassing phyllaries).
5;
corollas 4.5–5.5 mm.
3–17;
corollas 1.8–2.5 mm (2-lipped).
4–10;
corollas 2.5–3 mm (2-lipped).
coherent (falling together), oblong to obovate, 5–8 × 1–3 mm (often dotted in submarginal rows and sometimes along midribs with elliptic oil-glands 0.1–0.3 mm).
distinct, linear or linear-oblanceolate, 5–6 × 1–1.5 mm (dotted with scattered, elliptic oil-glands 0.4–0.5 mm).
borne singly or in congested, (leafy) cymiform arrays.
borne singly or in congested, (leafy) cymiform arrays.
2.5–4.5 mm, strigillose;
pappi of 2 (ray) or 5 (disc) lanceolate scales 1.5–2.5 mm.
2.25–3.25 mm, puberulent;
pappi (ray and disc similar) of 2–5 antrorsely barbed bristles or awns 1.5–2.5 mm plus shorter, barbellate scales.
= 24.
= 48.
Pectis prostrata
Pectis linearifolia
The development of roads and highways has created ideal habitats for Pectis prostrata. Its range appears to be expanding along the coasts of Florida; it was discovered in Louisiana relatively recently. It can be expected to spread along the Gulf Coast and perhaps northward along the Atlantic Coast as well. Autogamy has apparently assisted P. prostrata to spread rapidly as suitable new habitats have become available.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Reports of Pectis linearifolia from Jamaica were based on misidentifications of diminutive, short-peduncled individuals of P. glaucescens (D. J. Keil 1986). In Florida, P. linearifolia and P. glaucescens are largely allopatric; they occasionally occur in mixed populations. No hybrids are known.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
LA Plants
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
