Polanisia dodecandra (L.) DC.
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Authority
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.
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Family
Cleomaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Stems 2–6+ dm; petioles about as long as the blades; lfls ovate or obovate to lance-elliptic, 1.5–6+ × 0.5–2 cm; fls numerous (15–30 open fls and buds); bracts simple; pet white to pink, irregularly truncate to deeply emarginate; stamens (7–)10–27; nectary solid, 1–2 × 0.5–1.5 mm, with bright orange or orange-red top, inconspicuous in fr; style 3–40 mm, slender, withering and deciduous in fr; frs oblong to narrowly fusiform, flattened but somewhat inflated, mostly 3–6 cm × 5–10 mm, on a stipe 2–6 mm, the valves separating apically for 1/3 to 2/3 their length; seeds mostly 15–40+, 1.7–3 mm; 2n=20. Sandy or gravelly places, especially along streams; N.H. and s. Que. to Alta. and Wash., s. to Md., Tenn., Ark., Tex., and n. Mex. July–Sept. Four well marked vars., 2 in our range: Var. dodecandra, the more northeastern phase, common in our range, has the larger pet 3.5–6.5(–8) mm, and the longest stamens 4–10(–14) mm. (P. graveolens) Var. trachysperma (Torr. & A. Gray) H. H. Iltis, more western, extends e. to Minn. and Mo. and is occasionally intr. eastward; it has larger fls, the larger pet (7–)8–13(–16) mm, and the longest stamens (9–)12–30 mm, usually much exceeding the pet. (P. t.)