Schwalbea

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 2: 606. 1753.

Common names: Chaffseed
EndemicConservation concern
Etymology: For Christian Georg Schwalbe, eighteenth-century medical botanist
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 17. Treatment on page 459. Mentioned on page 458.

Herbs, perennial; hemiparasitic, caudex knotty, semiwoody. Stems erect, not fleshy, densely pubescent. Leaves cauline, alternate; petiole absent; blade not fleshy, not leathery, margins entire. Inflorescences terminal, racemes; bracts absent. Pedicels present; bracteoles present. Flowers: sepals 5, calyx bilaterally symmetric, tubular, abaxial lobes long-triangular, larger and with 2 lateral lobes and larger central lobe 3-notched at summit, adaxial short-triangular; petals 5, corolla pale yellow, strongly suffused with purple distally, strongly bilabiate, tubular, abaxial lobes 3, adaxial 2, adaxial lip ± galeate; stamens 4, equal, filaments pilose; staminode 0; ovary 2-locular, placentation axile; stigma capitate. Capsules: dehiscence septicidal and loculicidal. Seeds ca. 300, brown or amber, linear, flattened, ± twisted, wings present. x = 18.

Distribution

e United States.

Discussion

Species 1.