| Pygmy pussypaws | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Montiaceae |
| Genus: | Calyptridium |
| Species: | C. pygmaeum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Calyptridium pygmaeum Parish ex Rydb.
[2]
| |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Calyptridium pygmaeum, synonym Cistanthe pygmaea, [2] common name pygmy pussypaws, is a plant species endemic to California. It has been reported from Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo, Tulare and Fresno Counties, in pine and subalpine forests at elevations of 1900–3550 m. [3] [4]
Calyptridium pygmaeum is an annual herb. Stems are horizontal, spreading out in various directions from the rootstock, each up to 8 cm long. Leaves are up to 15 mm long. Flowers form dense clusters at the ends of each of the branches. Sepals are egg-shaped and fleshy. The 4 petals are white, each up to 3 mm long, remaining attached to the fruit. Capsule is egg-shaped, about 5 mm across. Seeds are black, round and shiny. [3] [5] [6]
References
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0".
- ^ a b c "Calyptridium pygmaeum Parish ex Rydb.", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2021-03-23
- ^ a b Flora of North America v 4 p 463, Cistanthe pygmaea
- ^ Calflora taxon report, Calyptridium pygmaeum
- ^ Hershkovitz, Mark A. 1990. Phytologia 68(4): 268.
- ^ Rydberg, Per Axel. 1932. North American Flora 21(4): 320.