2. Paronychia Jamesii T. & G. James' Whitlow-Wort

Fig. 1717

Paronychia Jamesii T. & G. Fl. N. A. I: 170. 1838.

Scabrous-pubescent, stems 3-10' high, much branched from the base. Leaves linear-subulate, 10" long or less, the lowest obtuse, the uppermost mucronate or bristle-pointed; stipules entire; flowers in small cymes, the branches of the inflorescence ascending; bracts shorter than the calyx; calyx 1"-1 1/4" long, the segments lanceolate, gradually acuminate, tipped with divergent awns of about one-fourth their length; staminodia about as long as the filaments.

In dry soil, Nebraska and Colorado to Texas and New Mexico. July-Oct.

3. Paronychia Wardi Rydb. Ward's Whitlow-Wort

Fig. 1718

Paronychia Wardi Rydb.; Small, Fl. SE. U. S. 400. 1903.

Branched from a woody base, or simple up to the inflorescence, minutely pubescent, the branches slender. Leaves linear-filiform, 3"-10" long, acute, early deciduous; branches of the inflorescence spreading, very slender; calyx puberulent, only about 1" long; sepals oblong, abruptly acuminate, the short awns at length divergent-ascending.

In dry or stony soil, Kansas and Colorado to Texas and New Mexico. Aug.-Oct.

4. Paronychia Dichótoma (L.) Nutt. Forking Whitlow-Wort. Nailwort

Fig. 1719

Achyranthes dichotoma L. Mant. 51. 1767. Paronychia dichotoma Nutt. Gen. 1: 159. 1818.

Much branched from the thick woody base, glabrous or puberulent, 4'-14' tall. Leaves subulate, smooth, all acute, mucronate or bristle-tipped; stipules entire, silvery, often 5"-6" long, tapering into a slender awn; cyme loose, its branches ascending; calyx 2" long, glabrous or merely puberulent, the awns of its segments divergent, short; stami-nodia of minute bristles hardly one-fourth as long as the filaments; styles nearly as long as the perianth-segments, the stamens fully one-half as long.

In dry soil, Maryland to North Carolina, west to Arkansas and Texas. July-Oct.

5. Paronychia Depréssa (T. & G.) Nutt. Depressed Whitlow-Wort

Fig. 1720

P. Jamesii depressa T. & G. Fl. N. Am. 1: 171. 1838.

Paronychia depressa (T. & G.) Nutt.; A. Nelson, Bull. Torr. Club 26: 236. 1899.

Root deep, woody, the numerous prostrate or spreading branches 3' long or less, forming dense mats, roughish-puberulent. Leaves linear, 3"-7" long, cuspidate; stipules silvery, as long as the leaves or shorter, long-acuminate; flowers in small cymes, or solitary in the axils; calyx pubescent, about 1 1/4" long, exceeded by the bracts; awns of the sepals divergent-ascending; filaments shorter than the slender staminodia.

In dry soil, South Dakota to Nebraska and Wyoming. June-Aug.

Paronychia diffusa A. Nelson, of South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado, differing in shorter bracts and stipules, does not appear specifically distinct.

6. Paronychia Sessiliflora Nutt. Low Whitlow-Wort

Fig. 1721

Paronychia sessiliflora Nutt. Gen. 1: 160. 1818.

Densely tufted from stout thick roots, low, the internodes very short and hidden by the imbricated leaves and stipules. Leaves linear-subulate, glabrous or puberulent, the lowest erect and obtuse, the uppermost recurved-spreading, mucronate or bristle-pointed; stipules 2-cleft, usually shorter than the leaves; bracts entire, mostly shorter than the flowers; flowers sessile, solitary at ends of branch-lets; calyx 1"1 1/2" long, its segments hooded at the apex, tipped with at length divergent awns of nearly their own length; staminodia about as long as the filaments.

In dry soil. Saskatchewan to Montana, Nebraska and Colorado. Aug.-Sept.