5. Callirhoe triangulata (Leavenw.) A. Gray (clustered poppy mallow)
Pl. 451 k, l;
Map 2049
Stems 10–45 cm
long, spreading to ascending, densely pubescent with stellate hairs. Basal leaf
petioles 10–22 cm long, pubescent with stellate hairs. Basal leaf blades
3.5–10.5 cm long, triangular to ovate-cordate or ovate-hastate in outline,
unlobed or less commonly with 3 shallow to deeply palmate lobes, these broad or
narrow, the margins entire or more commonly scalloped, the upper and lower
surfaces pubescent with dense (3)4(–8)-rayed stellate hairs. Leaves of the
aerial stems with the blades 3–12 cm long, triangular to ovate-cordate or
ovate-hastate in outline, with 3 or 5 shallow or less commonly deeply palmate
lobes, the margins entire or more commonly undulate, scalloped,
scalloped-toothed, or shallowly lobed again, the pubescence as in the basal
leaves. Stipules persistent, 3.5–7.2 mm long, elliptic-lanceolate to less
commonly ovate. Inflorescences panicles with 2–8 flowers, sometimes condensed
and appearing as stalked clusters or umbellate. Flower stalks 0.6–2.0 cm long.
Bractlets subtending the calyx 4–7 mm long, narrowly obovate to spatulate. Buds
ovate to broadly ovate, the sepal tips valvate, forming a short beaklike
projection 1–2 mm long. Calyces 5–8 mm long, the outer surface densely
pubescent with 4–6-rayed stellate hairs, the lobes 2–6 mm long,
triangular-ovate, often with abruptly short-pointed tip. Petals 15–27 mm long,
red to purplish red, sometimes with a lighter area toward the base. Fruits 6–9
mm in diameter, with 10–13 mericarps. Mericarps dehiscing longitudinally along
the dorsal surface, 3.0–3.8 mm long, the dorsal surface pubescent with simple
hairs and also with irregularly 2-branched hairs, the sides of the fertile
portion thin and smooth to slightly granular, separated from the inconspicuous
sterile portion (this rarely absent) but without a well-developed collar. 2n=30.
July–August.
Uncommon, known
only from historical specimens from Mississippi and Scott Counties
(southeastern U.S. from North Carolina to Mississippi (except Florida) and
midwestern U.S. from Wisconsin and Iowa south to Indiana and Missouri). Sand
prairies; also roadsides.
The specimens
attributed to this species and mapped by Steyermark (1963) from Franklin and
St. Louis Counties could not be located during the present study. Callirhoe
triangulata apparently is no longer extant in Alabama, Iowa, and Missouri,
and is of conservation concern in most of the rest of its range (except in
Illinois).