Camissonia chamaenerioides (A.Gray) P.H.Raven
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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: El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, 1852, C. Wright 1377 (GH; isotypes, BM, K, PH, US).
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Description
Description - Erect, 8-50 cm. tall, usually branched near the base, not flowering near the base, glandular-pubescent with an admixture of strigulose pubescence in and near the inflorescence. Leaves very narrowly elliptic, more rarely narrowly elliptic, the basal ones largest, to 8 cm. long and 2.5 cm. wide; leaves entire to very sparsely denticulate; apex acute or acuminate, the base attenuate; petioles of basal leaves 1-3.5 cm. long, the upper leaves subsessile. Inflorescence nodding before anthesis. Hypanthium 1.6-2.3 mm. long, 0.9-1.4 mm. across at the summit, pubescent in lower half within. Sepals 1.5-2.5 mm. long, 0.7-1.3 mm. wide. Petals 1.8-3 mm. long, 1-1.8 mm. wide. Filaments of the episepalous stamens 0.7-1.5 mm. long, those of the epipetalous ones very slightly shorter; anthers 0.5-1.1 mm. long. Style 2.3-4.5 mm. long, the lower portions pubescent; stigma 0.7-1 mm. in diameter, surrounded by the anthers at anthesis. Capsule 3.5-5.5 cm. long, 0.8-0.9 mm. thick, spreading, terete. Seeds similar to those of C. refracta, 0.9-1 mm. long, ca. 0.3 mm. thick. Gametic chromosome number, n =7. Autogamous.
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Discussion
Camissonia chamaenerioides is distinctive and has rarely been confused with any other species. It is similar to C. refracta and probably derived from populations relatively similar to that species, but differs not only in flower size but also in leaf shape, pubescence, and seed size. Camissonia chamaenerioides is the only species of the genus that occurs in Texas. This species occurs sympatrically with C. refracta, C. boothii subsp. condensata, and C. boothii subsp. desertorum; no natural hybrids have been observed.