Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Pectocarya heterocarpa I.M. Johnston
(Chuckwalla Combseed)

Family: Boraginaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
None

Pectocarya heterocarpa is an ascending herb of arid lowlands. The white flowers are minute and inconspicuous, even smaller than those of Pectocarya platycarpa. The leaves are almost linear. The fruits are very conspicuous at many nodes on mature stems. The calyx is more asymmetrical than that of Pectocarya platycarpa, but more importantly the nutlets of Pectocarya heterocarpa come in two shapes. Two of the nutlets have broad wings like all four of the nutlets of P. platycarpa, but the other two have narrow or absent wings.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Pectocarya heterocarpa, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Burro Mtns., CD trail south of Engineer Canyon, April 20, 2010



Pectocarya heterocarpa, closeup of branches, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Burro Mtns., CD trail south of Engineer Canyon, April 20, 2010



Pectocarya heterocarpa, field macro of flower, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Burro Mtns., CD trail south of Engineer Canyon, April 20, 2010



Pectocarya heterocarpa, field macro of nutlets-- 2 broadly winged and 2 wingless, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Burro Mtns., CD trail south of Engineer Canyon, April 20, 2010



Pectocarya heterocarpa, lab macro of nutlets-- 2 broadly winged and 2 wingless, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Burro Mtns., CD trail south of Engineer Canyon, April 20, 2010



Pectocarya heterocarpa, lab macro of calyx, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Burro Mtns., CD trail south of Engineer Canyon, April 20, 2010



Pectocarya heterocarpa, lab measurement of plant, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Burro Mtns., CD trail south of Engineer Canyon, April 20, 2010


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