Flora of North America species comparison

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Turnera ulmifolia

Turnera ulmifolia var. ulmifolia

ramgoat dashalong, yellow alder
Photo is of parent taxon
Habit Subshrubs or shrubs, 0.5–2 m; hairs simple and glandular, glandular hairs microcapitate.
Leaves

not aromatic;

petiole (1.5–)4–27 mm, with 2 apical nectaries;

blade elliptic to ovate, 3.5–15 × 1.3–5.7 cm, base attenuate to cuneate, margins not revolute, serrate, apex acute or acuminate, surfaces pilose.
Inflorescences

epiphyllous, 2–4 cm;

peduncle adnate to petiole;

prophylls inserted at calyx base, ovate, 6–29 × 3–12 mm, often with nectaries.
Flowers

homostylous;

calyx 14–30 mm, tube 5–16 mm;

petals bright yellow, 14–30 × 7–20 mm;

proximal part of filaments adnate by their margins to floral tube forming 5 nectar pockets, 11–21 mm;

anthers basifixed;

styles 8.5–21 mm.
Capsules

globose, 3–8 mm, granulose.
Seeds

blackish, 2.1–3 × 0.8–1.1 mm;

epidermis smooth;

aril unilateral, 1.8–3 mm.
2n

= 30.

Turnera ulmifolia

Turnera ulmifolia var. ulmifolia
Phenology Flowering and fruiting Mar–Dec.
Habitat Sheltered locations
Elevation 0–10 m [0–30 ft]
Distribution
from FNA
FL; LA; s Mexico; Central America; West Indies [Introduced also in tropical Asia, Africa, Madagascar, Indian Ocean Islands, Pacific Islands, Australia]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
FL; LA; s Mexico; Central America; West Indies [Introduced in North America; introduced also in Asia, Africa, Madagascar, Indian Ocean Islands, Pacific Islands, Australia]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (1 in the flora).

Both varieties of Turnera ulmifolia are homostylous with var. acuta (Sprengel) Urban occurring in Bermuda and the West Indies. Both are used as medicinal plants in the West Indies.

I. Urban (1883) described 12 varieties in Turnera ulmifolia. Experimental studies have demonstrated that this species as he circumscribed it is a polyploid complex in which most of the taxa deserve species status (M. M. Arbo and Aveliano Fernández 1987; Fernández 1997; Fernández and Arbo 2000; J. S. Shore and S. C. H. Barrett 1985; V. G. Solís Neffa and Fernández 2000).

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

Variety ulmifolia is often planted and has probably escaped from cultivation in various locations.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 6, p. 169. FNA vol. 6, p. 169.
Parent taxa Turneraceae > Turnera Turneraceae > Turnera > Turnera ulmifolia
Sibling taxa
T. coerulea, T. diffusa
Subordinate taxa
T. ulmifolia var. ulmifolia
Synonyms T. angustifolia, T. ulmifolia var. angustifolia
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 271. (1753) [F I]
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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