The Jepson Herbarium
		University of California, Berkeley

Directory       News       Site Map       Home

Annual, perennial herb, shrub, unarmed.
Leaf: generally odd-1- pinnate (or ± palmately compound, rarely some or most simple); stipules often gland-like, bump-like, or conic, often not apparent; leaflets 3–9, generally irregularly arranged, lowest not stipular in position.
Inflorescence: umbel or 1–2-flowered, axillary, generally peduncled, often bracted.
Flower: corolla generally yellow (white, pink), fading darker; 9 filaments fused, 1 free.
Fruit: dehiscent or not, exserted from calyx or not, ovoid to oblong, ± beaked.
Seed: 1–several.
± 23 species: sw Can, w US, Mex, 1 sp. in Chile. (Greek: tip, probably for hooked-tipped fruit) [Brouillet 2008 J Bot Res Inst Texas 2:387–394] Intermediates may be hybrids.
Unabridged etymology: (Greek acme, point, apex, probably for the hooked-tipped fruit)
Unabridged references: [Isely 1981 Mem New York Bot Gard 25:128–206; Sokoloff 2000 Ann Bot Fenn 37:125–131]
Unabridged note: Pollen has 4(7) apertures.

Key to Acmispon

1. Fr dehiscent, generally flat, generally ± entirely exserted from calyx body, straight or ± curved, generally with straight or curved, 0.5–1.5 mm beak; annual, perennial herb

2. Perennial (except Acmispon strigosus); fruit straight or ± curved; wings generally > keel; stigma ± glabrous or finely hairy

3. Annual, generally prostrate, mat-forming; inflorescence generally 1–2-flowered; corolla 5–10 mm; leaf axis flat, ± blade-like; fruit generally curved near tip ..... A. strigosus (2)

3' Perennial or shrub-like, prostrate (mat-forming or not) to erect; inflorescence 1–9-flowered; corolla 7–25 mm; leaf axis not flat or blade-like; fruit generally straight (or curved throughout, rarely only at or near tip)

4. Lf axis including petiole 10–35 mm; leaflets 7–9, 1–2.2 cm, length 1.5–3 × width ..... A. grandiflorus

5. Plant puberulent or soft-hairy; leaflets generally 1–1.5 cm ..... var. grandiflorus

5' Plant ± glabrous, finely strigose, or puberulent; leaflets generally 1.6–2.2 cm ..... var. macranthus

4' Lf axis incl petiole 1–8 mm; leaflets 3–5, < 1 cm and/or length > 3 × width

6. Shrub-like, ascending, (2)5–15 dm, finely strigose; corolla 12–24 mm ..... A. rigidus

6' Perennial, prostrate or low-ascending, 1–3 dm, silvery-silky or gray-puberulent; corolla 6–12 mm ..... A. argyraeus

7. St generally prostrate, mat-forming; calyx lobes ± 2 mm; SnBr, SnJt, DMtns ..... var. argyraeus

7' St decumbent to low-ascending; calyx lobes 2–3 mm; DMtns

8. Lflet oblanceolate to obovate, length ± 3–4 × width; New York Mtns ..... var. multicaulis

8' Lflet obovate, length ± 2 × width; Providence Mtns ..... var. notitius

2' Annual; fruit generally straight; wings generally ± <= keel; stigma glabrous or puberulent

9. Fls generally 1 per leaf axil; peduncle << 1 cm, bracts 0

10. Corolla white, pale yellow, or pink, often darkening in age; plant generally ascending to erect and calyx lobes < 2 × tube, or rarely prostrate and calyx lobes generally > 2 × tube

11. Plant generally 1–4 dm; calyx lobes ± 1.5 × tube ..... A. denticulatus

11' Plant < 1 dm; calyx lobes ± 2 × tube ..... A. rubriflorus

10' Corolla yellow, reddening in age; plant prostrate to low-ascending; calyx lobes 0.8–2 × tube

12. Calyx lobes 1–2 × tube; fruit generally 3–4 mm wide; plant generally with soft, spreading hairs ..... A. brachycarpus

12' Calyx lobes ± 0.8–1.2 × tube; fruit generally 2.3–3 mm wide; plant ± strigose or hairs soft, spreading ..... A. wrangelianus

9' Fls 1–several per leaf axil; peduncle generally > 1 cm, generally bracted

13. Infl generally 2–4-flowered (1st-formed often 1–2-flowered); leaflets 3–7, obovate to ± round, terminal generally largest ..... A. maritimus

14. Corolla 3.5–5 mm, keel > other petals; fruit 1–1.5 cm, becoming narrowed between seeds ..... var. brevivexillus

14' Corolla 6–10 mm, keel ± = other petals; fruit 1.5–3 cm, not narrowed between seeds ..... var. maritimus

13' Infl generally 1-flowered; leaflets 1–9, lanceolate to obovate, ± equal

15. Calyx lobes >> tube; leaflets generally 3 (upper leaves often simple) ..... A. americanus var. americanus

15' Calyx lobes ± <= tube; leaflets 3–9

16. St ascending to erect; leaf axis sometimes ± flat; corolla pink or salmon, quickly fading; fruit straight, margin often wavy ..... A. parviflorus

16' St prostrate, often mat-forming; leaf axis flat; corolla yellow; fruit generally curved near tip, margin not wavy ..... A. strigosus (2)

1' Fr indehiscent, generally not flat, generally included or ± exserted (sometimes exserted) from calyx body, curved most of length, generally with curved, 2–3 mm beak; generally per

17. Annual, prostrate, decumbent, or ascending; young growth ± not hairy; corolla 3–7 mm; fruit exserted; SCoR, SW, generally s of Los Angeles

18. Infl ± sessile; s SCoR, SW ..... A. micranthus

18' Infl peduncled; s SCo (San Diego Co.) ..... A. prostratus

17' Perennial, shrub, prostrate to erect; young growth hairy if plant blooming 1st yr or flowers < 7 mm; fruit incl or exserted; widespread, incl SW

19. Perennial, shrub; ChI

20. Calyx shaggy-hairy; fruit included (except slowly elongating beak); leaf generally silvery-silky with fine, straight, ultimately wavy or tangled hairs ..... A. argophyllus (2)

21. Infl peduncled, not crowded; calyx lobes 1.5–2.5 mm; stem prostrate to ascending ..... var. argenteus

21' Infl ± sessile, crowded at stem tip; calyx lobes 2.5–5 mm; stem ascending to erect

22. St generally erect; leaves overlapping; calyx lobes ± 2.5–4 mm; s ChI (San Clemente Island) ..... var. adsurgens

22' St generally ascending; leaves not overlapping; calyx lobes 2.5–5 mm; n ChI (Santa Cruz Island) ..... var. niveus

20' Calyx ± glabrous or strigose; fruit soon-exserted; leaf green or gray, sparsely or densely strigose or silky ..... A. dendroideus

23. Lflets 3, densely strigose or ± silky, generally gray; n ChI (San Miguel Island) ..... var. veatchii

23' Lflets 3–5, finely or sparsely strigose, green; ChI (except San Miguel Island)

24. Fr 1–1.5 cm; peduncle bract 0; ChI (except San Miguel, San Clemente Islands) ..... var. dendroideus

24' Fr 2.5–5 cm; peduncle bract generally pres; s ChI (San Clemente Island) ..... var. traskiae

19' Perennial (except Acmispon glaber); mainland

25. Lflets 3; inflorescence 1–3-flowered, ± sessile

26. Lflet 2–5 mm; fruit 6–9 mm; uncommon, se PR, sw DSon ..... A. haydonii

26' Lflet 4–15 mm; fruit 10–15 mm; widespread, incl PR

27. Calyx glabrous (see couplet 31 for vars.) ..... A. glaber (2)

27' Calyx strigose ..... A. procumbens

28. Corolla 9–12 mm; calyx 4–6 mm, lobes ± = tube; s SN ..... var. jepsonii

28' Corolla 6–8 mm; calyx 2–3 mm, lobes << tube; not s SN ..... var. procumbens

25' Lflets >= 3; inflorescence 2–15-flowered, sessile or peduncled

29. Lflet glabrous or finely strigose, generally green; hairs straight or ± wavy

30. Plants generally ascending to erect (some on immediate coast prostrate), bushy-branched, 5–20 dm; stem ± woody (yet green), sparsely leafy; corolla yellow; calyx lobes generally 1–2 mm, not curved outward; coastal and inland ..... A. glaber (2)

31. Keel prominent, > wings; corolla generally 8–9 mm; generally inland, SW, DSon ..... var. brevialatus

31' Keel not prominent, ± = wings; corolla 7–12 mm; coastal and inland, NCo, NCoR, n SNF, CCo, SnFrB, SCo, WTR, PR ..... var. glaber

30' Plants prostrate or low-ascending, < 10 dm; stem not woody, leafy; corolla pink-white or yellow; calyx lobes generally < 1 mm or curved outward; especially coastal

32. Calyx lobes narrow, some or all curved outward or hooked; corolla generally white to ± pink (to brick-red when dry) ..... A. cytisoides

32' Calyx lobes wide, straight, not hooked; corolla yellow ..... A. junceus

33. Peduncles 8–25 mm; stem often wiry, generally decumbent; fruit well exserted ..... var. biolettii

33' Peduncles 1–5 mm; stem generally stout, prostrate to ascending; fruit ± exserted ..... var. junceus

29' Lflet hairy, green, gray, or silvery; hairs straight or wavy

34. St, especially near tip, generally with spreading or obliquely directed, often straight, stiff hairs < 0.5 mm; corolla 4–6 mm; coastal and inland ..... A. heermannii

35. Corolla generally 4–5 mm; ovary generally finely strigose; SCo, SnBr, PR, DSon ..... var. heermannii

35' Corolla generally 5–6 mm; ovary generally soft spreading-hairy; NCo, NCoRO, CCo, SCoRO ..... var. orbicularis

34' St generally strigose or with ± spreading, often wavy hairs 0.2–0.4 mm; corolla 5–12 mm; especially inland

36. Fr exserted; leaflet hairs generally wavy, not obscuring surface; leaves gray or green ..... A. nevadensis

37. Fls generally 3–5 per inflorescence; calyx 6–7 mm, appearing blocky; banner abruptly upcurved 90° TR, ne PR ..... var. davidsonii

37' Fls generally 5–12 per inflorescence; calyx 5–10 mm, not appearing blocky; banner upcurved 30–90° KR, NCoR, CaR, SN, CCo, SCo, w PR, DMtns ..... var. nevadensis

36' Fr incl or ± exserted; leaflet hairs generally straight, tangled in age, generally obscuring surface; leaves silky-silvery ..... A. argophyllus (2)

38. Infl generally < 1 cm wide, 4–8-flowered; corolla 6–10 mm; especially c SN and s ..... var. argophyllus

38' Infl often ± 1.5 cm wide, 10–15-flowered; corolla 8–12 mm; n SN ..... var. fremontii

Contact/Feedback

Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) [year] Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html [accessed on month, day, year]
Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on [month, day, year].
We encourage links to these pages, but the content may not be downloaded for reposting, repackaging, redistributing, or sale in any form, without written permission from The Jepson Herbarium.