478 PENNELL: PLANTS OF SOUTHERN UNITED STATES 
In 1805, but two years later, Willdenow added a second species, ~ 
Crotonopsis elliptica. His plant is stated to differ from the linear- 
leaved C. linearis Michx. in its leaves being elliptic, rounded to 
each end, and in its spikes being shorter. Evidently C. elliptica 
is our oldest name for the widely-ranging northern and inland 
species. As this plant extends to the Gulf coast, incidentally 
overlapping the range of C. linearis, the type-region, ‘‘ Carolina,” 
is well within its normal range. 
The later history of the genus may be briefly sketched. Pursh 
in 1814 combined both species, though as varieties, in one, his 
C. argentea. Nearly to the close of the past century the genus 
was uniformly considered monotypic. But in 1895 Nash, from a 
single collection from Florida, added a second species, C. spinosa. 
* e . ’ 
As a matter of fact he was actually recharacterizing Michaux s 
C. linearis, laying primary emphasis upon newly discovered 
features of the fruit. 
Spikes short, of but one or two fruits. Staminate flowers less than 1 mm. in diameter; 
filaments shorter than the sepals, and but little longer than the anthers. Fruit 
ovoid, with an evident median vein on each side; scale-like hairs on fruit with 
broad brown disk, umbonate to tuberculate-raised, even occasionally into a short 
spine, and with its margin of relatively uniform closely appressed white rays. 
Leaves lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 1.5-3 cm. long; stellate hairs on upper sur- 
face with long rays which overlap those of adjoining hairs. Plant usually 1-5 ~*~ 
2 tall. 1. C. elliptica, 
Spikes longer, slender, of three to six fruits. Staminate flowers more than I mm. Im 
diameter; filaments longer than the sepals, and much longer than the anthers. 
Fruit ellipsoid, without evident vein.on_the side; scale-like hairs on fruit. wit 
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lanceolate-linear, 2-4 cm. long; stellate hairs on upper surface with sate’ rays 
which do not overlap cides of adjoining hairs, Plant usually 4-8 dm. tall. : 
2. C. linearis. 
I. CROTONOPSIS ELLIPTICA Willd. a 
Crotonopsis elliptica Willd. Sp. Pl. 4: 380. “TES. “Habitat in - 
Carolina.’’. 
Crotonopsis argentea elliptica Pursh, FI. ee Sept. 1: 206. 1814.- 
Dry sandy soil, Connecticut to northern Florida, west to a 
eastern Kansas and central Texas; northward in or near the : 
Coastal Plain, southward mostly inland, on granitic rocks of the 
Piedmont and southern Appalachian regions. Numerous speci- = 
mens seen. The most southwestern studied are from sandy poe 
