Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Pectocarya penicillata
shortleaf combseed, winged pectocarya
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to Baja California, east to Idaho and Utah.

Habitat: Dry, open areas, often in sandy soil and among sagebrush, at low elevations.

Flowers: April-June

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, flies

Description:
General:

Nearly prostrate annual, freely branched at the base and forming a rosette.

Leaves:

Leaves linear, up to 2 cm. long and 1 cm. wide.

Flowers:

Inflorescence of several false racemes, naked toward the tip but with occasional bracts or leaves lower down; sepals 5, distinct; corolla minute, white, less than 1 mm. wide; nutlets spreading from the broad style base.

Fruits:

Nutlets 4, spreading in pairs, oblong, 1.5-2 mm. long, surpassing the sepals, the prominent margins upturned, lacerate into hooked bristles.

Accepted Name:
Pectocarya penicillata (Hook. & Arn.) A. DC.
Publication: Prodr. 10: 120. 1846.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Pectocarya linearis (Ruiz & Pav.) DC. var. penicillata (Hook. & Arn.) M.E. Jones [HC]
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Pectocarya penicillata in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.

WA Flora Checklist: Pectocarya penicillata checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Pectocarya penicillata information.

E-Flora BC: Pectocarya penicillata atlas page.

CalPhotos: Pectocarya penicillata photos.

USDA Plants: Pectocarya penicillata information.

13 photographs:
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