Besseya arizonica (Arizona Coral-Drops)
Family
SCROPHULARIACEAE
Common Name
Arizona Coral-Drops
Description
Scapes solitary, to 40 cm tall, white-hirsute; leaves 5-15 cm long, ovate to oval, crenate or undulate-crenate, pilose to glabrate, basal leaves rounded to cordate at the base; floral bracts white-ciliate; calyx 3-4 mm long, the lobes oblong-lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, conspicuously ciliate; corolla white, 4-5 mm long, tube very short; staminal filaments exserted; capsule 4-5 mm long nearly circular, glabrous. Flowering from May to August.
Distribution
This species occurs in Coconino and Apache Counties in Arizona and Cibola, McKinley, Socorro, and Sandoval counties in New Mexico.
Habitat
Moist meadows and woods, Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, and gambel oak habitats; 7,000-8,500 feet.
Important Literature
Pennell, F.W. 1933. A revision of Synthyris and Besseya. Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of Philadelphia 85:83-93.
Kearney, T.H. and R.H. Peebles. 1951. Arizona Flora. University of California Press, Berkeley.
Martin, W.C. and C.R. Hutchens. 1981. A Flora of New Mexico.
Information Compiled By
Heather Hollis 1998
For distribution maps and more information, visit Natural Heritage New Mexico