Nolina erumpens

(Torrey) S. Watson

Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 14: 248. 1879.

Common names: Mesa sacahuista
Basionym: Dasylirion erumpens Torrey in W. H. Emory, Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. 2(1): 216. 1859
Synonyms: Beaucarnea erumpens (Torrey) Baker
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 418. Mentioned on page 416.

Plants acaulescent, occasionally arborescent, cespitose; rosettes from vertical, subterranean, branched caudices. Stems 0–2.5 m. Leaf blades stiff, somewhat carinate, concavo-convex, 80–170 cm × 9–18 mm, not glaucous; margins serrulate, with close-set cartilaginous teeth; apex lacerate. Scape 1.5–3 dm, to 1.2 cm diam. Inflorescences paniculate, 4–9 dm × 7–18 cm, contained within rosettes, not surpassing leaves; bracts caducous; bractlets to 2 mm, margins hyaline. Flowers: tepals 1.6–2.2 mm; fruiting pedicel ascending, proximal to joint 1–1.5 mm, distal to joint 1.5–2.5 mm. Capsules thin-walled, inflated, 2.6–4.4 × 3.5–5.7 mm, indistinctly notched at apex. Seeds closely invested in capsules, rounded, bursting ovary walls, 1.5–2.5 × 1–1.5 mm.


Phenology: Flowering late spring.
Habitat: Rocky hillsides of limestone or igneous slopes in shrub-grasslands
Elevation: 900–2300 m

Discussion

The leaves of Nolina erumpens have teeth that are at right angles to the margin. Compared with N. texana in common range, N. erumpens flowers much later in the spring.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.