ACHYRONYCHIA

Species in genus: 1 sp
Etymology: (Greek: chaff fingernail, from silvery, chaffy sepals)

Native

S. borealis Bigelow subsp. sitchana (Steud.) Piper

Perennial, sprawling to erect, 15–50 cm, ± glabrous; rhizome white
Stem: internodes generally finely papillate
Leaves ± evenly spaced; blade 15–45 mm, ± lanceolate; margin roughened at 20X magnification, flat, dull sometimes ciliate near base
Inflorescence terminal or axillary, several–many-flowered; bracts leafy; pedicels erect to ascending, in fruit curved to reflexed
Flower: sepals 5, 3–4.5 mm, lanceolate, acute, glabrous, margin ± widely scarious, ribs in fruit 3, prominent; petals (0)5, 0.5–0.8 X sepals
Seed 1–1.2 mm, dark reddish brown; tubercles low, elongate
Chromosomes: 2n=52
Ecology: Sedge stands, meadows, streambank, swamps, moist woods
Elevation: < 2100 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Outer North Coast Ranges, High Cascade Range, c&s Sierra Nevada Foothills, High Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, South Dakota
Synonyms: S. s. Steudel var. bongardiana (Fernald) Hultén

Native

S. obtusa Engelm.

OBTUSE STELLARIA

Perennial, generally prostrate, 4–20 cm, generally glabrous; rhizome white
Stem: internodes glabrous
Leaves ± evenly spaced; blade 5–12 mm, ± ovate; margin ± smooth, ± flat, shiny, generally ciliate near base
Inflorescence axillary; flower solitary; pedicels ascending, in fruit spreading to reflexed
Flower: sepals generally 4, 1.5–3.5 mm, ± ovate, ± obtuse, glabrous, margin ± thinly scarious, ribs obscure; petals 0
Seed 0.6–0.7 mm, dark brown; tubercles low, ± elongate
Chromosomes: 2n=26,52,±65,±78
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Moist areas in woods, shaded edges of creek
Elevation: 1600–2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Outer North Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, c Sierra Nevada Foothills, n&c High Sierra Nevada, Modoc Plateau
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, Colorado