Texas chinchweed

Pectis fastigiata A. Gray, Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts, n. s. 4: 62. 1849; P. texana Cory

Annuals or perennials, 5–15 cm; herbage spicy-scented. Leaves 10–40 × 1–2 mm, bases of distal blades not notably expanded. Peduncles 3–30 mm. Phyllaries narrowly oblanceolate, 2.5–4.5 mm, widest near apices, each with a conspicuous, subterminal oil-gland 0.5–1 mm plus 1 or 2 pairs of smaller submarginal oil-glands. Cypselae 2.5–3.5 mm; pappi usually of 1–7 bristles or awns, sometimes coroniform, usually less than 1 mm. 2n = 24.

Flowering Jun–Nov. Open areas in grasslands and open woodlands, mostly on shallow limestone soils; 100–700 m; Tex.

Variety fastigiata is known only from the Edwards Plateau region of central Texas, mostly on limestone soils. It appears to intergrade in the western portion of its range with var. angustifolia.