Diaperia verna

(Rafinesque) Morefield

Novon 14: 468. 2004.

Common names: Spring or many-stem rabbit-tobacco
Weedy
Basionym: Evax verna Rafinesque Atlantic J. 1: 178. 1833
Synonyms: Evax multicaulis de Candolle
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 19. Treatment on page 461. Mentioned on page 445, 462.

Plants greenish to grayish, 2–15(–25) cm, ± lanuginose. Stems mostly 2–10; branches proximal and distal (distal subopposite), rarely none. Leaves: largest 7–13 × 2–4 mm; capitular leaves subtending glomerules, also ± hidden between and surpassed by heads. Heads mostly distal, in subdichasiform arrays, campanulate to ± spheric, 2–3.3 mm, heights ± equal to diams. Receptacles pulvinate, 0.3–0.6 mm, heights ± 0.2–0.5 times diams. Pistillate paleae scarcely imbricate, longest 1.9–2.7 mm. Staminate paleae mostly 3–5, apices somewhat spreading, ± plane. Functionally staminate florets 3–5; ovaries vestigial, 0–0.1 mm; corollas hidden in heads, actinomorphic, 1.8–2.5 mm, often ± spreading-arachnoid, lobes equal. Bisexual florets 0. Cypselae rounded, ± terete, mostly 0.7–0.9 mm. 2n = 26.

Distribution

V19-768-distribution-map.gif

Ala., Ariz., Ark., Ga., La., N.Mex., Okla., S.C., Tex., n Mexico.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

The two varieties of Diaperia verna intergrade within a broad band inland from the Gulf of Mexico in southeastern Texas. Though some specimens are difficult to assign with confidence, the varieties show enough correlated geographic and ecologic segregation to warrant taxonomic recognition.

As neotypified by J. D. Morefield (2004), the name Evax verna now applies to the taxon that de Candolle named E. multicaulis.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Pistillate paleae collectively hidden by thick lanuginose indument; heads ± campanulate, larg- est mostly 2–2.5 mm Diaperia verna var. verna
1 Pistillate paleae individually visible through thin sericeous indument; heads ± spheric, largest mostly 2.5–3.3 mm Diaperia verna var. drummondii