Chilopsis
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Authority
Gentry, Alwyn H. 1992. Bignoniaceae--part II (Tribe Tecomeae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 25: 1-370. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Bignoniaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Chilopsis saligna D. Don = C. linearis (Cavanilles) Sweet.
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Description
Genus Description - Shrubs or small trees. Leaves simple, mostly alternate, sometimes partially opposite or whorled, linear-lanceolate to linear. Inflorescence a terminal raceme or racemose panicle, sparsely to densely hirtellous-pilose or villous-tomentose. Flowers lavender to magenta outside and on lobes, the throat white with yellow ridges and purple nectar lines, the calyx bilabiate to near base (occasionally spathaceously split), pubescent; corolla broadly tubular-campanulate, glabrous outside, with short gland-tipped trichomes below stamen insertion, with flexuous multicellular simple trichomes 1-3 mm long in throat and on lower lobes; stamens four, didynamous, the thecae divaricate, 2-3 mm long, the pollen in tetrads, the coarsely reticulate sculpturing reduced to areoles, the staminode 4-10 mm long and sometimes tipped with aborted anther; ovary cylindrical conical, lepidote-glandular; disk patelliform-pulvinate, 0.3 mm long, 1 mm wide. Fruit a linear capsule, terete, the seed wings formed by separate or basally partially fused hairs.
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Discussion
Chilopsis, sometimes divided into several varieties based on degree of leaf curving and pubescence, has been recently revised by Henrickson (1985) who concludes that it consists of two subspecies, one of which may be subdivided into two varieties. Since the distribution of the species is largely extratropical, I here merely reproduce relevant parts of Henrickson’s treatment to which the reader may refer for exsiccatae and more details.
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Distribution
A monotypic genus of the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States.
United States of America North America| Mexico North America|