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mesquite neststraw, Sonoran neststraw

Habit Plants 2–10(–15) cm.
Leaves

blunt (proximal) or acute (median and distal), mucronate, longest 6–13 mm;

largest capitular leaves ± elliptic to narrowly ovate, 3–10 × 2–3 mm.

Receptacles

clavate, 1.2–2.2 mm, heights 2.8–3.5 times diams.;

scars ± evenly distributed, mamillate.

Phyllaries

0, vestigial, or falling, ± subulate, mostly 0.1–0.5 mm, unequal.

Heads

in cymiform to ± paniculiform, sometimes dichasiform arrays, ± spheric, largest 3.5–4.5 × 3–4 mm, thickly lanuginose.

Cypselae

0.6–0.8 mm, slightly compressed;

pappi: staminate of (1–)3–8 barbellate bristles 0.9–1.3 mm (proximal barbs longer, spreading).

Pistillate

paleae: longest 1.9–3.1 mm, winged distally;

wings ± elliptic, widest in distal 1/3 of palea lengths;

bodies (except midnerves) chartaceous;

outermost paleae ± saccate.

Functionally

staminate florets 2–5;

ovaries partially developed, 0.3–0.6 mm;

corollas 0.9–1.4 mm.

Stylocline sonorensis

Phenology Flowering and fruiting Mar–May.
Habitat Grassy hillsides, sandy drainages, with mesquite (Prosopis)
Elevation 400–1400 m (1300–4600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; Mexico (Sonora)
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Stylocline sonorensis is known from southeastern Arizona and northeastern Sonora. A disjunct, 1930 California occurrence was from apparently suitable habitat; recent searches have not relocated it.

Stylocline sonorensis is illustrated in J. D. Morefield (1992). It is superficially similar to S. citroleum; its closest relative is S. micropoides. Its ancestors may have been hybrid products involving Logfia depressa or its progenitors (Morefield).

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

Source FNA vol. 19, p. 452.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Gnaphalieae > Stylocline
Sibling taxa
S. citroleum, S. gnaphaloides, S. intertexta, S. masonii, S. micropoides, S. psilocarphoides
Name authority Wiggins: Contr. Dudley Herb. 4: 26. (1950)
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