Biology:Lechea minor
| Lechea minor | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Cistaceae |
| Genus: | Lechea |
| Species: | L. minor
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lechea minor L.
| |
Lechea minor, commonly known as thymeleaf pinweed, is a perennial forb native to the United States and Canada.
Description
Lechea minor has a taproot and forms basal rosettes of procumbent, leafy stems later in the season. Early stems are erect, branching above, and covered with appressed or spreading hairs. Leaves are typically opposite, subopposite, or whorled below, and alternate above; winter rosettes often have whorled or subverticillate leaves. Inflorescences are scorpioid cymes or racemes, arranged in a panicle or thyrse. Flowers have five sepals (outer two linear, inner three elliptic to ovate), three reddish or maroon petals (shorter than sepals), 5–15 stamens, and three red, plumose stigmas. Capsules are ellipsoid, 1.2–1.7 mm long and 0.7–1 mm wide, usually containing three reddish-brown seeds about 1 mm long. Stems are 20–70 cm tall, with spreading to ascending branches. Leaves are 6–12 mm long, glabrous above, ciliate, and pubescent beneath, especially on the midrib and margins. Petioles are about 1 mm long.[1]
Distribution and habitat
Lechea minor is found from Massachusetts and Vermont west to southern Ontario and northern Indiana and south to central peninsular Florida and Louisiana. It is primarily found in the Atlantic Plain and around the Great Lakes. It grows in pine savannas, longleaf pine sandhills, pine-oak woodlands, and sandy disturbed places.[2]
Ecology
It flowers from July through August and fruits from August to October.[2] It forms a soil seed bank that can persist for several years,[3] and populations have shown the ability to persist through repeated disturbance from annual prescribed burning.[4]
References
- ↑ Core, Earl L. (1970-11-15). "Carolina Flora Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas A. E. Radford H. E. Ahles C. R. Bell". BioScience 20 (22): 1217. doi:10.2307/1295633. ISSN 0006-3568. https://doi.org/10.2307/1295633.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Lechea minor (Thymeleaf Pinweed) - FSUS" (in en). https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/main.php?pg=show-taxon.php&plantname=Lechea+minor.
- ↑ Platt, William J.; Carr, Susan M.; Reilly, Matthew; Fahr, Jean (2006). [37:psoiog2.0.co;2 "Pine savanna overstorey influences on ground-cover biodiversity"]. Applied Vegetation Science 9 (1): 37. doi:10.1658/1402-2001(2006)9[37:psoiog2.0.co;2]. ISSN 1402-2001. https://doi.org/10.1658/1402-2001(2006)9[37:psoiog]2.0.co;2.
- ↑ Glitzenstein, Jeff S.; Streng, Donna R.; Masters, Ronald E.; Robertson, Kevin M.; Hermann, Sharon M. (2012). "Fire-frequency effects on vegetation in north Florida pinelands: Another look at the long-term Stoddard Fire Research Plots at Tall Timbers Research Station". Forest Ecology and Management 264: 197–209. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2011.10.014. ISSN 0378-1127. Bibcode: 2012ForEM.264..197G. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2011.10.014.
Wikidata ☰ Q14618745 entry
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