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James' clammyweed

Mexican clammyweed

Habit Annuals, 15–40(–60) cm. Perennials, 40–80 cm.
Stems

branched;

hairs stalked, glandular throughout.

sparsely or profusely 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.

petiole green to purple, angled, 1.5–4.5(–6) cm, (glandular);

leaflet blade broadly elliptic to oblanceolate, 2–4 × 1–2 cm, margins entire, apex obtuse, mucronulate, surfaces sparsely glandular.

Racemes

1–3 cm (6–8 cm in fruit);

bracts trifoliate, ovate, 5–15 mm.

5–20 cm (10–30 cm in fruit);

bracts unifoliate, ovate, 8–12 mm.

Pedicels

5–15 mm.

10–25(–40) 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.

sepals purple, oblong, 3–6 × 1.5–2.5 mm, margins entire, apex acuminate, glandular;

petals white, narrowly spatulate, clawed, abaxial pair 10–20 × 2–3(–5) mm, apex emarginate to lacerate, adaxial pair 15–30 × 3–5 mm, apex emarginate;

nectary glands bright orange, not conspicuous (in fruit);

stamens 20–27, exserted, purple, 20–50 mm;

anthers purple, 1–1.3 mm;

gynophore 0–2 mm in fruit;

ovary 5–10 mm;

style deciduous in fruit, 20–40 mm;

stigma purple.

Capsules

8–30 × 2–4 mm, reticulate, glandular.

(somewhat inflated), 60–100 × 7–10 mm, reticulate, glandular.

Seeds

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

20–65, dark reddish brown, globose to oblong, 1.5–2 mm, smooth.

2n

= 20.

= 20.

Polanisia jamesii

Polanisia uniglandulosa

Phenology Flowering summer–early fall. Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat Sandy soil, often in blowouts in prairies and stabilized dunes Pinyon, juniper, and oak woodlands, arroyos, riverbeds, roadsides, pastures
Elevation 200-1400 m (700-4600 ft) 300-800 m (1000-2600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; IA; IL; IN; MN; NE; NM; OH; OK; SD; TX; WI
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
NM; TX; Mexico
[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.)

Polanisia uniglandulosa is the only perennial species of the genus, notable for its large, showy, white petals and silky-iridescent seed testa.

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

Source FNA vol. 7, p. 203. FNA vol. 7, p. 204.
Parent taxa Cleomaceae > Polanisia Cleomaceae > Polanisia
Sibling taxa
P. dodecandra, P. erosa, P. tenuifolia, P. uniglandulosa
P. dodecandra, P. erosa, P. jamesii, P. tenuifolia
Synonyms Cristatella jamesii Cleome uniglandulosa, P. dodecandra subsp. uniglandulosa
Name authority (Torrey & A. Gray) H. H. Iltis: Brittonia 10: 54. (1958) (Cavanilles) de Candolle: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 1: 242. (1824)
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