Camissonia brevipes (A.Gray) P.H.Raven subsp. brevipes
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Authority
Raven, Peter H. 1969. A revision of the genus Camissonia (Onagraceae). Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 37: 161-396.
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Family
Onagraceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type: On gravelly hills, Colorado River, California or Arizona, February 1854, J. M. Bigelow (GH; isotypes, NY, PH, US).
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Description
Description - Stout, generally unbranched above, the stems villous. Terminal leaflet ovate. Inflorescence dense, nodding. Hypanthium 4-8 mm. long, villous without, yellow within. Sepals usually villous, with a caudate protection arising below the apex. Petals 6-18 mm. long, 7-25 mm. wide. Anthers 4-6 mm. long. Capsule 20-92 mm. long; pedicel 5-20 mm. long. Gametic chromosome number, n=7. Selfincompatible.
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Discussion
Camissonia brevipes subsp. brevipes grows in more mesic habitats than those occupied by subsp. arizonica or subsp. pallidula. In the mountains east of Death Valley, for example, C. claviformis subsp. aurantiaca and C. brevipes subsp. pallidula are found growing on dry flats, C. munzii above in more mesic sites, and G. brevipes subsp. brevipes in the best watered situations near the tops of the passes. It grows sympatrically with C. claviformis subsp. aurantiaca, C. claviformis subsp. claviformis, C. claviformis subsp. funerea, C. claviformis subsp. integrior, C. claviformis subsp. peeblesii, O. multijuga, C. munzii, and C. walked subsp. tortilis, and forms hybrids with C. claviformis, C. multijuga, and C. munzii. It intergrades with subsp. pallidvla over a wide area in Utah, Nevada, California, and Arizona, but not with subsp. arizonica, with which it does not come in contact. The most densely villous and succulent individuals within subsp. brevipes are found in Mohave County, Arizona, and Clark County, Nevada, in the region about Hoover Dam. Progeny of Everett & Balls 23034, grown at Claremont, California, were self-incompatible, as were 12 plants from Frenchman Flat, Nye County, Nevada, R18853; 3 from State Hwy. 95, 33.4 miles north of junction with U.S. Hwy. 60-70, San Bernardino County, California, Kyhos 65-237; and 3 from 2.9 miles south of Twentynine Palms, San Bernardino County, California, Kyhos 64-31. Individuals from the last three populations were tested by pollen-tube growth in selfed and outcrossed individuals. It is surprising that insect visitors to this selfincompatible species appear to be relatively uncommon; nevertheless, full seed set appears to be the rule, except in isolated individuals. Probably a wide spectrum of visitors, active throughout the hours of daylight, is effective in cross-pollinating the plants.