1. Collomia linearis Nutt.
Pl. 492 b, c;
Map 2250
Plants annuals,
taprooted. Stem 5–60 cm long, solitary, erect or strongly ascending, sometimes
branched at the lower nodes, glabrous to short-hairy toward the base,
moderately pubescent with slightly longer, fine, gland-tipped hairs toward the
tip. Leaves alternate, sessile. Leaf blades 1–8 cm long, simple, those of the
lower leaves linear to lanceolate, those of the upper ones lanceolate to ovate,
angled or tapered to a sharply pointed tip, the bases of the larger leaves
sometimes somewhat clasping, the margins entire or nearly so, the upper surface
glabrous but often somewhat sticky, the undersurface with short, often
glandular hairs, mostly along the midvein, the lateral veins obscure.
Inflorescences terminal, solitary, headlike clusters surrounded by leaflike
bracts. Calyces 5-lobed to above or near the midpoint, 4–7 mm long at
flowering, becoming enlarged to 6–9 mm at fruiting, narrowly bell-shaped, the
tube uniform in texture (becoming papery at fruiting), the lobes triangular to
narrowly triangular, glandular-hairy. Corollas 5-lobed, white to pink,
trumpet-shaped (but often appearing more or less tubular), the tube 8–15 mm
long, the lobes 1–4 mm long. Stamens with the filaments attached unequally in
the tube, the anthers included or 1 or 2 slightly exerted. Style not exserted.
Seeds 3, 2.0–2.5 mm long, oblong-ovoid, slightly flattened, with a shallow
longitudinal groove along 1 side and usually a minute winglike ridge at each
end, the surface brown, smooth to faintly and finely wrinkled, becoming sticky
when moistened. 2n=16. May–August.
Introduced,
uncommon, known thus far only from historical collections from Marion County
(western U.S. east to North Dakota and Nebraska; Canada; introduced farther
east). Pastures and open, disturbed areas.
Steyermark
(1963) mentioned an occurrence in Christian County without further
documentation. No specimens from this county could be located during the
present study.