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James' clammyweed

Habit Annuals, 15–40(–60) cm.
Stems

branched;

hairs stalked, glandular throughout.

Leaves

petiole green to purple, angled, (0.2–)0.5–0.8(–1) cm;

leaflet blade linear to narrowly elliptic, 1.5–2.8 × 0.1–0.2 cm, margins entire, apex acute, mucronulate, surfaces densely glandular abaxially, sparsely glandular adaxially.

Racemes

1–3 cm (6–8 cm in fruit);

bracts trifoliate, ovate, 5–15 mm.

Pedicels

5–15 mm.

Flowers

sepals pale yellow, glandular, lanceolate, 1.6–2.6 × 0.8–1.2 mm, margins entire, apex acute to obtuse;

petals white, oblong-ovate, clawed, abaxial pair 1.5–3 × 1–2 mm (6 or 7-lobed), apex emarginate to lacerate, adaxial pair 3–5 × 2–3 mm (4 or 5-lobed), apex emarginate to lacerate;

nectary glands yellow (drying purple), 0.5–1 mm;

stamens 6–9, slightly exserted, yellow, 3.2–5.2 mm;

anthers yellow, 0.5–1 mm;

gynophore 2–4 mm in fruit;

ovary 2.5–5(–7) mm;

style persistent in fruit, 2.5–4.5 mm;

stigma red.

Capsules

8–30 × 2–4 mm, reticulate, glandular.

Seeds

18–36, bright reddish brown, globose to oblong, 1.8–2 mm, pebbled (without transverse ridges).

2n

= 20.

Polanisia jamesii

Phenology Flowering summer–early fall.
Habitat Sandy soil, often in blowouts in prairies and stabilized dunes
Elevation 200-1400 m (700-4600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; IA; IL; IN; MN; NE; NM; OH; OK; SD; TX; WI
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Populations of Polanisia jamesii in Indiana and Ohio are adventive.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 7, p. 203.
Parent taxa Cleomaceae > Polanisia
Sibling taxa
P. dodecandra, P. erosa, P. tenuifolia, P. uniglandulosa
Synonyms Cristatella jamesii
Name authority (Torrey & A. Gray) H. H. Iltis: Brittonia 10: 54. (1958)
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