Gayophytum ramosissimum var. deflexum Hooker; G. ramosissimum var. obtusum Jepson

Herbs glabrous or sparsely strigillose distally. Stems erect, profusely branched throughout, usually at every other node, branching dichotomous except near base, 10–50 cm. Leaves reduced distally, 10–40 × 1–5 mm; petiole 0–3(–10) mm; blade very narrowly lanceolate to sublinear. Inflores­cences with flowers arising as proximally as first 5–15 nodes from base. Flowers: sepals 0.4–0.8 mm, reflexed singly; petals 0.7–1.2(–1.5) mm; pollen 90–100% fertile; stigma subglobose, surrounded by anthers at anthesis. Capsules ascending to reflexed, subterete, 3–9 × 0.8–1.2 mm, with inconspicuous constrictions between seeds, valve margins entire or weakly undulate, all valves free from septum after dehiscence, septum straight; pedicel (3–)5–12 mm. Seeds 10–30, all developing, arranged ± parallel to septum and in alternating pattern between locules, crowded, overlapping, often appearing to form 2 irregular rows in each locule, brown or gray mottled with brown, 1–1.5 × 0.5–0.7 mm, glabrous. 2n = 14.

Flowering May–Sep. Sagebrush communities; 500–3000 m; Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., N.Mex., Oreg., Utah, Wash., Wyo.

Gayophytum ramosissimum is similar to some individuals of G. diffusum subsp. parviflorum and has probably contributed to the extensive variation of the G. diffusum tetraploid complex. Gayophytum ramosissimum is most readily distinguished from G. diffusum subsp. parviflorum by its capsule being shorter than the pedicel.