BOEAGE FAMILY 333 



and Cryptantha inaequata. The dense tufts of soft hairs on the calyces in the ease of Cryptantha 

 barbigera and Cryptantha crinita help to confirm nutlet characters in these species. Sometimes 

 one or two of the four nutlets differ constantly in size and sometimes in shape and thus give a 

 definite clue to the species. Such clear cases of heteromorpliism distinguish species or groups of 

 species. On the other hand, when the four nutlets are of the same size and shape, such a condition 

 is regarded as homomorphic, even though occasionally collections may exhibit fruit in which one 

 or two of the nutlets, due to incomplete development, may be smaller than the others, as for ex- 

 ample in Cryptantha muricata (Bald Mt., Greenhorn Mts., C. N. Smith 204). In our species 

 generally the nutlets in shape may be ovate, lanceolate or obclavate; the dorsal and ventral sides 

 may be flattish, low-rounded or high-rounded. The groove on the ventral side may be elevated 

 with a plane surface on each side extending to the lateral angles; a ventral structure of this sort 

 ia here described as convexly 2-planed. 



In general the homomorphic species exhibit a great degree of fluctuating variability in the 

 nutlets: often in shape of the nutlets, frequently in surface sculpturing, commonly as to the 

 number, form or disposition of the tubercles or murications, often in the lateral angles as being 

 acute or obtuse, often also in the ventral groove and the amount of its basal forking. In con- 

 sequence, the attempt to fix definite limits to species in this group is attended vrith many ever- 

 renewed uncertainties and difficulties. Certain morphological features are recombined, it would 

 seem, to a degree that is very great. It is one's experience that each new lot of material derived 

 from the field alters, to some extent, the limits of species as previously worked out. Where acces- 

 sions of new material are very considerable, one must, in each case, revise anew. In such a revision 

 some new units may be set up, but some old ones may be reduced. By this method a certain stabi- 

 lization of various species can be matured. If, on the other hand, there should be an assertion of 

 fixed limits for certain species in various groups, all material just beyond these fixed boundaries 

 would, in consequence, be used in automatically multiplying further units to an excessive degree. 

 Holding narrowly or fixedly to the original concept of a published species, or to species limits as 

 set forth in an initial revision, inevitably leads to an ever-lengthening file of units to be offered 

 as new. 



A. Nutlets tuberculate, papillate or muricate. 



I. Nutlets with obtuse or acute lateral angles, not winged, though sometimes with 



A marginal ridoe. 



1. Nutlets normally 4 (rarely 1,2 or 3 hut always some plants in a given locality with 4 nutlets). 

 a. Nutlets all alike or differing very slightly in size. 



Spikes loosely corymbose-paniculate or disposed in a narrow panicle or a much reduced panicle, 

 or the spikes sometimes solitary. 

 Calyx-bristles straight; corolla inconspicuous (% to % line wide). 



Nutlets broadly triangular-ovate; lower leaves opposite; lower San Joaquin Valley 



1. C. hooveri. 

 Nutlets ovate-rostrate; leaves alternate; transmontane or mostly high easterly meadows 



of Sierra Nevada 2. C. ambigua. 



Calyx-bristles at tips of lobes a little curved; corolla 1 to 1% lines broad; cent. Sierra Nevada 



foothills 3. C. maripnsae. 



Spikes in clusters of 2 to 5, terminating the main branches, the clusters not bracteate at base, 

 borne above the leaves (except sometimes in depauperate plants). 

 Bristles on calyx-lobes dense, mostly recurved, the upper ones short and equal, the lower ones 



longer ; montane, widely distributed 4. C. simulans. 



Bristles or hairs on calyx-lobes straight, ascending or divergent. 



Fruiting calyx 1 to 2% lines long; corolla 1% to 3Vi lines broad; cismontane. 



Calyx in fruit only slightly surpassing nutlets ; nutlets triangular-ovate, the lateral 



angles with an evident ridge toward base 5. C. muric-ata. 



Calyx in fruit usually much surpassing nutlets; nutlets ovate-rostrate to lanceolate- 

 attenuate, the lateral angles not ridged 6. C. intermedia. 



Fruiting calyx 3 to 5 lines long; corolla % to 1 line broad; transmontane deserts; (see 

 also vars. under nos. 5 and 6). 

 Calyx-lobes conspicuously and densely villous-tufted with long white hairs on lower 

 half, the lobes also long-bristly; flowers spicate, the fruiting spikes 1 to 



5 inches long; nutlets ovate-acuminate 7. C. barbigera. 



Calyx-lobes short-silky inside, glabrous outside but bristly on the midrib; flowers 

 glomerate-capitate, the fruiting heads or spikes % to 1 inch long ; nutlets 

 slender-cuneate or lanceolate-attenuate 8. C. nevadensis. 



b. Nutlets heteromorphous (at least in most flowers). 



Calyx 1 to 2 lines long, its bristles straight; transmontane deserts. 



Spikes loosely flowered; calyx appressed to rachis, bearing short bristles, persistent; plants 

 tall, with flexuous branches 9. C. dumetorum. 



