Koeberlinia spinosa in Flora of North America @ efloras.org

1. Koeberlinia spinosa Zuccarini, Flora. 15(2, Beibl.): 74. 1832.

Plants 0.5-10 m, spreading, globose, compact to somewhat open. Stems ± terete, green twigs thorn-tipped, 25-70 cm. Leaves 0.2-1.5 × 0.5 mm. Inflorescences 3-15 mm. Pedicels 3-6 mm. Flowers: sepals greenish white, ovate-deltate, 1-2 mm, glabrous; petals greenish white or cream, obovate or oblanceolate, 3-4.8 × 0.8-1.4 mm; filaments brownish, 2.8-4 mm, flat; anthers 0.8-1 mm, slightly curved; gynophore (stipe) 0.3-0.8 mm; ovary ovoid, 1-1.2 mm; style 0.4-1.4 mm. Fruits ca. 5 mm, mucronate from persistent style. Seeds 3-3.5 mm. 2n = 44, 88.

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora): sc, sw United States, n Mexico.

1 Stipes 0.3-0.5 mm; styles 0.4-0.7 mm; mature thorns less than 15 times longer than base width. 1c Koeberlinia spinosa var. wivaggii

+ Stipes 0.4-0.8 mm; styles 0.8-1.4 mm; mature thorns 20+ times longer than base width (2)

2 (1) Plants less than 0.5-2.5 m; young thorns glabrous or finely puberulent; petals 3-4 mm. 1a Koeberlinia spinosa var. spinosa

+ Plants 1-10 m; young thorns densely puberulent; petals 4-4.8 mm. 1b Koeberlinia spinosa var. tenuispina

Lower Taxa

Related Objects

Image Gallery

Distribution Map	Map
Illustration	Illustration