Difference between revisions of "Collinsia parviflora"

From Puget Prairie Plants
(Distribution)
Line 20: Line 20:
  
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
Occurs in BC extending south to California and east to Manitoba, Michigan, Colorado and Arizona (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994; Ganders and Krause, 1986; Elle, 2002).
+
Occurs in BC extending south to California and east to Manitoba, Michigan, Colorado and Arizona (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994; Ganders and Krause, 1986; Elle, 2002).
 +
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Rocky outcrops in coastal Douglas-fir zone. Areas that dry out rapidly in summer. Low to middle elevations but occasionally higher. Absent from the wet outer coast.
 
Rocky outcrops in coastal Douglas-fir zone. Areas that dry out rapidly in summer. Low to middle elevations but occasionally higher. Absent from the wet outer coast.

Revision as of 13:37, 8 May 2012

Flower

Taxonomy

  • Kingdom Plantae – Plants
  • Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
  • Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
  • Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
  • Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
  • Subclass Asteridae
  • Order Scrophulariales
  • Family Scrophulariaceae – Figwort family
  • Genus Collinsia Nutt. – blue eyed Mary
  • Species C. parviflora Lindl. – maiden blue eyed Mary

Description

Annual herb 5-40 cm tall from a taproot. Leafy stems usually erect of ascending, however, sometimes long and sprawling; may be simple or branched. Middle and upper leaves are opposite (or whorled), oblong to lance-shaped, 1-4 cm long, though smaller and bract-like in the inflorescence. Lower leaves are oblong to spoon-shaped and are stalked. Leaves are usually hairless while stems are often covered in minute hairs that may be glandular. Flowers are two-lipped, 4-8 mm long. The upper lip is white and two lobed; the lower lip is blue and three lobed; four stamens. Flowers are borne in the leaf axils on hairy stalks. Fruit is a smooth, reddish-brown capsule 3-5 mm long, football-shaped, usually bearing four seeds (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994).

Bloom Period

April - June

Distribution

Occurs in BC extending south to California and east to Manitoba, Michigan, Colorado and Arizona (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994; Ganders and Krause, 1986; Elle, 2002).

Habitat

Rocky outcrops in coastal Douglas-fir zone. Areas that dry out rapidly in summer. Low to middle elevations but occasionally higher. Absent from the wet outer coast.

Collinsia parviflora seeds
Photo Credit Lisa HIntz

Seed

Abbreviation: COPA

Seed sample from: 2011

Average measurement: 0.7 x 1.5 x 1

Measurement range: L: 0.5 - 0.9, W: 1.3 x 1.7, D: 0.9 x 1.3

Features

Color Seeds bright red with elliptical, white, large depression that is the hilium on a longer seed side.

Surface Seeds red, matte, and very slightly bumpy. Possibly smoother than COGR. Some seeds have seed coat ridges at the edge of the seed, giving it a somewhat winged look.

Seed slightly larger than Collinsia grandiflora.

Could be confused with: Collinsia grandiflora.

Latitudinal cross section: elliptical COPA.png

Longitudinal cross section: irregular

Basic Explanations and Assumptions:

The dimensions for the seeds are length x width x depth. The location of the hilum is used as the base of the seed, and the length is measured from hilum to the opposite apex. Where a style is present, the length is measured from the hilum to the bottom of the style. Width is measured at a right angle to the length at the widest part. Depth is measured at a right angle to the intersection of height and width lines.

Measurements included are the mean average for each measurement of ten separate seeds.

All measurements in millimeters unless otherwise noted.