Phemeranthus teretifolius
Phemeranthus longipes
quill fameflower, rock-portulaca
pink fameflower
± erect, simple or sometimes branching.
± erect, simple or branching, sometimes bearing persistent midribs of dead leaves basally, suffrutescent.
sessile;
blade terete, to 6 cm.
sessile;
blade terete, 1–2.5 cm.
cymose, over-topping leaves;
peduncle scapelike, to 25 cm.
cymose, much overtopping leaves;
peduncle scapelike, to 12 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 deciduous, often pinkish, orbiculate to suborbiculate, 2–3 mm;
petals pink, obovate, 4–5 mm;
stamens 10;
stigmas 3, linear.
subglobose, 4–5 mm.
subglobose, 3.5 mm.
without arcuate ridges, 0.8–1 mm.
with arcuate ridges, 1 mm.
= 48.
Phemeranthus teretifolius
Phemeranthus longipes
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.)
Phemeranthus longipes is easily confused with smaller specimens of P. parviflorus, which it resembles in general aspect; the two are most readily distinguished by seed surface, sepal shape, root character, and stamen number. The presence of spinelike persistent leaf midribs at the stem bases has been regarded as a diagnostic feature of P. longipes; not all plants exhibit this condition, however, and some of P. parviflorus approach it closely.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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