Styrax grandifolius
Styrax redivivus
bigleaf snowbell
bitternut, California snowdrop bush, California styrax, chaparral snowbell, drug snowbell, snowdrop bush
petiole 4–12 mm;
blade with 5–8 secondary veins, obovate to broadly elliptic or broadly rhombic, 7–20 × 4–14.3 cm, largest blades on sterile shoots 5–20 cm wide, margins of at least some leaves on sterile shoots (and often fertile shoots) denticulate to serrate, rarely also lobed, longest arms of abaxial hairs 0.2–0.6 mm.
petiole 3–14 mm;
blade with (6–)7–8(–9) secondary veins, broadly elliptic, ovate, obovate, or orbiculate, 3–7.5(–11.7) × 2.5–6.5(–8.8) cm, margins entire, longest arms of abaxial hairs 0.1–0.4 mm.
4–9 mm, usually shorter than calyx.
4–9 mm, 0.5–1.4 times as long as calyx.
calyx 4–6 × 3–6 mm;
corolla 10–21 mm, tube 3–5 mm, lobes 5(–6), imbricate in bud, slightly reflexed, elliptic, 8–16 × 3–7 mm;
filaments distinct beyond adnation to corolla.
calyx 4–7 × 5–7 mm;
corolla 16–26 mm, tube 5–6 mm, lobes 5–7(–8), imbricate in bud, slightly reflexed, elliptic, 10–21 × 4–7 mm;
filaments connate 2–7 mm beyond adnation to corolla.
globose, 11–15 × 10–12 mm (broader when 2–3-seeded), tawny or fulvous stellate-pubescent, at least when mature, dehiscent nearly or completely to proximal end, broadly exposing seed(s);
fruit wall 0.3–0.5 mm thick.
-terminal inflorescences 2–19-flowered or solitary flower, 3–11.5 cm;
axillary flowers present on at least some shoots (subtending leaves often reduced).
-terminal inflorescences 2–6-flowered or solitary flower, 2–5 cm;
axillary flowers absent.
fruits globose to subglobose, 8–12 × 6–8 mm (broader when 2–3-seeded), gray to yellowish gray stellate-pubescent, indehiscent or at most with 1–3 narrow longitudinal fissures, barely exposing seed(s);
fruit wall 0.4–0.5 mm thick.
= 32.
= 16.
Styrax grandifolius
Styrax redivivus
Small-leaved sterile specimens of Styrax grandifolius can usually be distinguished from S. americanus by the hairs on the abaxial leaf blade surface, and the shape of the leaves (particularly those at the distal end of new sterile shoots), which are usually obovate to broadly rhombic versus usually elliptic in S. americanus.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Of conservation concern.
Styrax redivivus has often been treated as an infraspecific taxon in S. officinalis Linnaeus of the eastern Mediterranean region. Morphological and molecular data (P. W. Fritsch 1996, 1999, 2001) provide evidence that strongly supports its species status. These data also establish the Texas species S. platanifolius as the closest relative of S. redivivus, and the two species together form a clade that is sister to S. officinalis.
Characters used to justify recognition of var. fulvescens of southern California have been shown to be clinal from north to south across the range of Styrax redivivus (P. W. Fritsch 1996b) and are here considered taxonomically inconsequential.
Another binomial sometimes used for Styrax redivivus is S. californicus, but this name does not have priority, having been published two years later than the basionym Darlingtonia rediviva (that generic name was applied later by Torrey to the genus of pitcher plants and is now conserved). Styrax californicus is a superfluous name, based on the same type as Darlingtonia rediviva.
Although Styrax redivivus extends from Shasta County to San Diego County, its occurrence is sporadic and infrequent. The ecological factors involved in the maintenance of this species, such as seed ecology, fire tolerance, and habitat requirements, are poorly known (P. W. Fritsch 1996b).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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