Camissonia boothii subsp. alyssoides (Hook. & Arn.) P.H.Raven

• Authority

  Raven, Peter H. 1969. A revision of the genus Camissonia (Onagraceae). Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 37: 161-396.

• Family

  Onagraceae

• Scientific Name

  Camissonia boothii subsp. alyssoides (Hook. & Arn.) P.H.Raven

• Type

  Type: Pine Creek, Snake River plains, southern Idaho, probably in July 1830, D. Douglas (K; isotype, GH).

• Description

  Description - Similar to subsp. desertorum, the plants 3-35 cm. tall, sometimes flowering near the base, with leafier stems and a less prominent basal rosette, the leaves relatively small. Plants strigulose, often densely so, especially in the inflorescence, or more rarely villous or with an admixture of glandular trichomes. Capsule 1-1.4 mm. thick, usually very contorted and crowded. Seeds monomorphic, smooth. Gametic chromosome number, n= 7. Self-incompatible.

• Discussion

  The number of synonyms listed with this taxon attests to its wide range rather than to any extraordinary degree of variability. Self-incompatibility was demonstrated by pollen-tube growth in 21 plants from the locality of R18540, cited above, and three from 28.9 miles southwest of Lovelock, Churchill County, Nevada, Kyhos 65-253. Camusonia boothii subsp. alyssoides intergrades broadly with subsp. intermedia and is very similar to subsp. desertorum. Certain populations cited by Munz (Bot, Gaz. 85: 241-244. 1928) are here regarded as belonging to C. boothii subsp. desertorum, as noted in the treatment of that subspecies. In general, the last three subspecies of this species consist of plants that persist and flower over a much longer season than the first three, which flower chiefly following the winter rains.