Phemeranthus teretifolius
Phemeranthus brevicaulis
quill fameflower, rock-portulaca
dwarf fameflower
± erect, simple or sometimes branching.
spreading-ascending, branching, sometimes suffrutescent.
sessile;
blade terete, to 6 cm.
sessile;
blade to 2.5 cm, distal terete or subterete, proximal flatter, broader, somewhat shorter.
cymose, over-topping leaves;
peduncle scapelike, to 25 cm.
cymulose or 1-flowered, slightly to distinctly overtopping leaves;
peduncle not scapelike, to 1.5 cm.
sepals deciduous, elliptic to ovate, 3–4 mm;
petals rose-purple, obovate, 5–7 mm;
stamens 12–20;
stigma 1, subcapitate or sometimes indistinctly 3-lobed.
sepals persistent, ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, to 8 mm;
petals light rose to purplish red, obovate, to 16 mm;
stamens usually 20;
stigma 1, subcapitate.
subglobose, 4–5 mm.
ellipsoid, 4–6 mm.
without arcuate ridges, 0.8–1 mm.
without arcuate ridges, 1 mm.
= 48.
= 24.
Phemeranthus teretifolius
Phemeranthus brevicaulis
Phemeranthus teretifolius is an allopolyploid derived from P. parviflorus and P. mengesii, both of which it evidently outcompetes within its southern Appalachian range (M. E. B. Carter and W. H. Murdy 1985; W. H. Murdy and M. E. B. Carter 1985, 2001).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Within the flora area Phemeranthus brevicaulis has been known most generally as Talinum pulchellum, which was based on a collection from Queen, New Mexico. However, P. brevicaule, which was described earlier (as T. brevicaule) from the Santa Eulalia Mountains in Chihuahua, Mexico, differs in no significant respect, and that epithet has priority when the two entities are merged.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
MD Biodiversity
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
