Cleomella obtusifolia

Torrey & Frémont in J. C. Frémont

in J. C. Frémont, Rep. Exped. Rocky Mts., 311. 1845.

Common names: Mojave stinkweed
Endemic
Synonyms: Cleomella obtusifolia var. florifera Crum ex Jepson Cleomella obtusifolia var. jonesii Crum ex Jepson Cleomella obtusifolia var. pubescens A. Nelson Cleomella taurocranos
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 7. Treatment on page 212. Mentioned on page 209.

Plants 10–40 (–120) cm. Stems profusely branched at base (usually spreading or matlike, sometimes erect); moderately to densely hairy (sometimes spreading-hispidulous). Leaves: stipules finely divided into crinkled threads, 5–7 mm; petiole 0.7–0.8 (–2) cm; leaflet blade elliptic to obovate, 0.5–1.5 × 0.2–0.8 cm, thin, margins entire, apex obtuse to rounded, mucronulate, surfaces spreading-hispidulous. Inflorescences racemes, terminating stems and branches (solitary flowers in leaf-axils of distal stems), 0.5–1.2 cm (0.5–1 cm in fruit); bracts unifoliate, 2–7 mm. Pedicels ascending in fruit, 4–10 mm (3–12 mm in fruit). Flowers: sepals green, ovate-deltate, 1–1.5 (–2.3) × 0.9–1.2 mm, sparsely hairy; petals yellow or orange, oblong, 3.5–6 × 1.2–2 mm, sparsely hairy abaxially; stamens yellow, 8–14 mm; anthers 1.5–2.2 mm; gynophore reflexed, 4–5 mm in fruit; ovary ± rhomboidal, 1–1.5 mm; style 2–3 (–5) mm. Capsules rhomboidal, 3.5–4 × 7–10 mm (striate), strigose. Seeds (1–) 2–6, light-brown to gray with black mottling, globose, 1.5 mm, smooth.


Phenology: Flowering late winter–fall.
Habitat: Sandy, often alkaline flats and desert playas
Elevation: 300-1300(-2000) m

Discussion

Cleomella obtusifolia is variable in degree of pubescence, elaboration of stipules, and fruit shape. Four varieties have been recognized; additional taxonomic investigation is desirable.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

No values specified.

... more about "Cleomella obtusifolia"
conical +  and discoid +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.22 cm2.2 mm <br />0.0022 m <br />) +
mucronulate +, obtuse +  and rounded +
Staria S. Vanderpool +
Torrey & Frémont in J. C. Frémont +
serrulate +, serrate +  and entire +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
rhomboidal +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
Mojave stinkweed +
Calif. +, Nev. +  and N.Mex. +
300-1300(-2000) m +
adnate +  and free +
actinomorphic +
rotate;crateriform campanulate or urceolate +
dehiscent +  and indehiscent +
elongate +
ovoid +, deltoid +, globose +  and rhomboidal +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
Sandy, often alkaline flats and desert playas +
sessile +  and stalked +
axillary +  and terminal +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
arranged +  and alternate +
setaceous +, thread-like +  and 3-8-palmatifid +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br />) +
1-carpellate +
rhomboidal +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
orange +  and yellow +
distinct +
3.5mm;6mm +
unequal +
0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
Flowering late winter–fall. +
tricolporate +  and binucleate +
in J. C. Frémont, Rep. Exped. Rocky Mts., +
not arillate +
light-brown +  and gray with black mottling +
globose +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (?) +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.23 cm2.3 mm <br />0.0023 m <br />) +
persistent +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
ovate-deltate +
0.09 cm0.9 mm <br />9.0e-4 m <br /> (0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br />) +
glandular-pubescent +  and glabrous +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1.4 cm14 mm <br />0.014 m <br />) +
spreading +  and erect +
deciduous +  and caducous +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
spreading-hispidulous +
Cleomella obtusifolia var. florifera +, Cleomella obtusifolia var. jonesii +, Cleomella obtusifolia var. pubescens +  and Cleomella taurocranos +
Cleomella obtusifolia +
Cleomella +
species +
crinkled +
40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br /> (120 cm1,200 mm <br />1.2 m <br />) +