Pseudostellaria sierrae

Pseudostellaria sierrae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Genus: Pseudostellaria
Species: P. sierrae
Binomial name
Pseudostellaria sierrae
Rabeler & R.L.Hartm.

Pseudostellaria sierrae is a species of flowering plant in the pink family known by the common name Sierra starwort.

Description

It is a perennial herb growing from a rhizome network with vertical, thick-tipped roots. The stem is hairless and grows up to about 27 centimeters in maximum height. The lance-shaped leaves are up to 3 centimeters long and hairless but rough along the edges.

The inflorescence is a solitary flower at the tip of the stem, or arising from an upper leaf axil. The flower has five white petals, each with a sharp, narrow notch in the tip. There are five long stamens with yellow anthers.

Distribution

It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the woodlands and forests of the Sierra Nevada. It was first collected before 1900 but not described to science until 2002.[1]

References

  1. Rabeler, R. K. & R. L. Hartman. (2002). Pseudostellaria sierrae (Caryophyllaceae), a new species from California. Novon 12:1 82-6.
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