James’s sea-heath James’s sea-heath

Shrubs, rounded, 1.5–5 dm; branches hairy, hairs retrorse-spreading to erect. Leaves: petiole sometimes absent, 0.1–1.5 mm, not or scarcely tapering toward blade, apex ± similar in width to base of blade; blade grayish yellow-green, narrowly ovate to linear, subterete, (1.5–) 2–7(–8.5) × 0.5–1 mm, margins tightly revolute, abaxial surface mostly concealed, adaxial surface glabrous or with scattered hairs. Inflorescences simple (compound) dichasia or solitary flowers. Flowers: calyx 4.5–7(–7.3) mm, lobes (4 or)5, (0.4–)0.5–1.2 mm; petals (4–)5(–6), white, spatulate, (5–)8.5–12 mm; stamens (3–)6(–8), exserted, 5.3–8.5 mm; anthers yellow; style exserted, (2–)3(–4)-branched; ovary (2–)3(–4)-carpellate; ovules (2–)3(–4), attached to bases of sutures, pendulous on recurving funiculi. Seeds 1 per capsule, ovoid-conic, 2–3 mm.

Flowering May–Sep. Gypsiferous soil, sand dunes, sandy or silty soil or shale, near salt lakes and salt flats, shortgrass prairies; 1100–2000 m; Colo., N.Mex., Tex.