Vauquelinia pauciflora Standley, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 31: 132. 1918

Young stems loosely tomentulose, tardily glabrescent. Leaves: petiole (1.5–)4–16(–22) mm; blade green or yellow-green, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate to elliptic or oblong-elliptic, sometimes oblong-ovate, (2.2–)3–7.5(–9) × (0.6–)0.8–1.4(–2) cm, surfaces glabrate or puberulent along midveins. Corymbs 1.5–5 × 1.7–7 cm, ˂puberulent to glabrate˃. Flowers: hypanthium 1.5–2.5 × 2.5–3.3 mm, exterior puberulent, interior glabrate; sepals 1.1–2.2 × 1.4–2 mm, abaxially puberulent to glabrate; petals 3.4–5.4 × 2.4–3.4 mm; filaments (2.5–)3–6 mm. Capsules (4.5–)5–6 × 3.5–4(–4.5) mm. Seeds 3.8–5 × 1.1–1.4 mm.

Flowering spring. Limestone substrates in arid chaparral-desert scrub; 1400–2300 m; Ariz., N.Mex.; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango).

Subspecies pauciflora is known from Cochise County, Arizona, and Hidalgo County, New Mexico. These plants have relatively small (to 5.5 mm) and thickened leaves with short petioles (to 7 mm), and small inflorescences.