Calyptridium pygmaeum

Pygmy pussypaws

Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this 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]
  • Cistanthe pygmaea (Parish ex Rydb.) Hershk.

Calyptridium pygmaeum, 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 (3.1 in) long. Leaves are up to 15 mm (0.59 in) 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 (0.12 in) long, remaining attached to the fruit. Capsule is egg-shaped, about 5 mm (0.20 in) across. Seeds are black, round and shiny.[3][5][6]

References

  1. ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0".
  2. ^ a b "Calyptridium pygmaeum Parish ex Rydb.", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2021-03-23
  3. ^ a b Flora of North America v 4 p 463, Cistanthe pygmaea
  4. ^ Calflora taxon report, Calyptridium pygmaeum
  5. ^ Hershkovitz, Mark A. 1990. Phytologia 68(4): 268.
  6. ^ Rydberg, Per Axel. 1932. North American Flora 21(4): 320.


Stub icon

This Caryophyllales article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.