Cryptantha whippleae D. A. York & M. G. Simpson

Simpson, Michael G. & York, Dana A., 2024, Cryptantha whippleae (Boraginaceae), a new serpentine-adapted species endemic to northern California, U. S. A., PhytoKeys 247, pp. 155-172 : 155-172

Cryptantha whippleae D. A. York & M. G. Simpson sp. nov.

Note.

Specimens cited indicate herbarium accession numbers, acronyms after Thiers (2024).

Type.

United States • California, Siskiyou County, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, The Eddys, ridge between China Mtn. and Mount Eddy, a few metres E of the county line , ca. 210 m N-NW of Parks Creek Trailhead. Annual with white (appendages yellow) flowers, rare, growing in serpentine soils on a S-facing, exposed, gravelly slope, serpentine soil, gravelly, associated taxa: Danthonia unispicata , Eriogonum siskiyouense , Eriogonum umbellatum var. humistratum , Eriogonum umbellatum var. nelsoniorum , Eriophyllum lanatum , Festuca idahoensis , Penstemon roezlii and Pinus jeffreyi . 41.34458, - 122.53863, 2100 m (6888 feet) elevation. 18 June 2022, D. York 3365 with Julie Kierstead, Ellen Uhler, Michael Uhler and Jennifer Whipple (holotype: CAS 1352444 ; isotype: HSC 105848 ) .

Diagnosis.

Cryptantha whippleae is similar to C. grandiflora in having a relatively wide corolla limb [3–6 mm wide in C. whippleae ; 4–8 mm wide in C. grandiflora ] and in the size, shape and sculpturing of nutlets, differing in having a mostly shorter plant height [3–8 (15) cm tall in C. whippleae versus 5–35 cm tall in C. grandiflora ], in cymule branching [bifurcate or rarely solitary in C. whippleae versus trifurcate in C. grandiflora ] and in having more nutlets per fruit [2–3 in C. whippleae versus (2) in C. grandiflora ]. Cryptantha whippleae is similar to C. milobakeri in corolla limb width [3–6 mm wide in C. whippleae ; 2–6 mm wide in C. milobakeri ] and in the size, shape and sculpturing of nutlets, differing in having a shorter height [3–8 (15) cm tall in C. whippleae versus 10–50 cm tall in C. milobakeri ], in calyx vestiture [with two distinct trichome types in C. whippleae versus a single trichome type in C. milobakeri ] and in having more nutlets per fruit [2–3 in C. whippleae versus 1 (2) in C. milobakeri ].

Description.

(Figs 1 – 6 ). Plants annual, 3–8 (15) cm tall, grey-green. Root a single taproot, not reddish. Stems erect, vegetative primary stem usually terminating in an inflorescence of bifurcate cymules (rarely of a solitary cymule), 0–2 lateral branches arising from base and / or middle region of primary stem, these usually terminating in a solitary cymule, stem surface both strigose, with trichomes antrorsely appressed, abruptly up-turned at base, ca. 0.5 mm long, and hispid, these trichomes spreading to inclined, ca. 1–1.5 mm long, ca. 0.05 mm wide proximally, mostly swollen at base, surfaces minutely scaberulous, all trichomes white, sharply tapered. Leaves alternate, those at plant base 4–7 in number, densely clustered, horizontal to ascending in upper cauline leaves, often brownish at anthesis, 4–10 mm × 1.5–3 mm at widest point, oblanceolate to obovate, those along aerial primary stem 0–4 in number, regularly spaced, ascending to appressed, green-grey, 7–15 mm × 1.5–3 mm at widest point, sessile, oblanceolate, oblance-ovate or narrowly oblong, base cuneate, apex obtuse to rounded, typically subtending lateral branches and base of cymule units, those above base often showing apparent evidence of herbivory; adaxial surface with mid-rib sunken, margins hispid, trichomes white, 1–2 mm long, ascending to appressed, trichome bases bulbous and prominently pustulate, pustules of 2 concentric rows of white to transparent, radially oblong cells; abaxial surface with strongly ridged mid-rib, hispid especially along mid-rib, trichomes similar to those of adaxial surface, but less prominently pustulate. Inflorescence with bifurcate (paired) cymules arising from the primary stem (cymules rarely solitary), a flower / fruit typically found at the junction of the cymules, with 1–2 additional solitary cymules branching from lower primary stem, cymules 20–65 mm long including basal axis, lowest flowers not touching at maturity, inflorescence bracts leaf-like, typically present at and slightly above cymule bases. Flowers with pedicels ca. 0.5 mm, hirsute and hispid, trichomes 0.5–1 mm, horizontal to ascending, subtending leaf-like flower bracts subtending only lowest 1–2 flowers, upper flowers lacking bracts. Calyx at anthesis 1.5–2 mm, in fruit 4–5.5 mm, ovoid, slightly constricted above middle, sepals distinct, lanceolate, erect, apices erect to recurved, abaxial mid-rib thickened, surface along sepal sides with trichomes straight, soft hirsute, inclined to ascending, 0.5–1.5 mm long, the raised mid-rib and sepal apex hispid, with trichomes horizontal to inclined, 1–1.5 mm long, ca. 0.5 mm wide near base, bulbous-based and often pustulate, trichome surface scaberulous, adaxial sepal surface glabrous basally, with appressed short trichomes apically. Corolla showy, white with yellow fornices, rotate, tube as long as calyx, limb 3–6 mm wide. Androecium of five stamens, attached at the same level ca. 2 / 3 along corolla tube between and below fornices; anthers ca. 0.5 mm long, ellipsoid, dithecal, introrsely dehiscent, dorsifixed; filaments filiform, ca. 0.1 mm long. Gynoecium four-lobed, lobes ca. 0.4 mm long, widely ellipsoid to oblong, style gynobasic, ca. 0.8 mm long. Nutlets 2–3 per fruit, 1.6–2.6 mm × 0.8–1.4 mm wide at widest point, length: width ratio 1.6–2.6, homomorphic, lance-ovate to ovate, margins rounded, base broadly rounded to truncate, apex short-acuminate, extreme tip acute-rounded, abaxial surface transversely flattened, slightly curved longitudinally, spinal ridge absent, adaxial surface 2 - planed convex, both surfaces smooth and shiny, brown to grey-brown, often dark brown mottled, attachment scar ventral groove in lateral view relatively straight, in face view, edges slightly raised, abutted apically, 2 - forked at base, contiguous or delimiting small areole. Gynobase at maturity ca. 1 / 2 height of nutlets, style extending to ca. 3 / 4 height of mature nutlets. Abortive nutlets 1–2, tan to brown, lanceoloid to ellipsoid, position relative to inflorescence axis variable.

Distribution and habitat.

Cryptantha whippleae is endemic to northern California, USA, ranging in elevation from ca. 800 to 2200 m. It occurs in open, rocky, serpentine substrate habitats (Figs 1 , 2 E ). All but one of the known specimens occur in Siskiyou County. The sole Lake County specimen (Nelson 5882) is possibly on serpentine, but substrate type was not recorded on the label (see Discussion).

Phenology.

Based on herbarium specimen records, Cryptantha whippleae flowers from late May to early August. Fruits typically mature within a few weeks after flowering.

Rarity and conservation status.

Cryptantha whippleae is currently known from 15 collections in only 12 specific localities, all in northern California. Pending further surveys, we recommend that it be ranked as 1 B (“ rare, threatened or endangered in California and elsewhere ”) using the California Native Plant Society Inventory Rankings ( CNPS Inventory 2024).

Etymology.

The epithet is named after Jennifer J. Whipple, an avid collector in the Mount Eddy / Scott Valley region and a retired Yellowstone National Park botanist. The epithet whippleae can be pronounced whíp-pul-ee as a commemorative, using the female genitive ending - ae and following Anglicised Latin ( Stearn 1993).

Suggested common name.

We suggest Whipple’s Cryptantha as a common name.

Paratypes

(arranged alphabetically by county, then by collector / collection number). United States, California • Lake County: along Forest Service Rd. 17 N 16, 3.1 mi. E of Bear Creek Ranger Station , Chaparral , 39.326214, - 122.786329, 1220 m elevation, 24 June 1980, T. W. Nelson & Jane Nelson 5882 ( HSC 202692 !) • Siskiyou County: Dry hill near Yreka , 41.73234, - 122.64111 [estimated from label locality data], 804 m elevation [estimated from label locality data], 27 May 1910, G. D. Butler 1416 ( RSA 0153874 !, UC 163852 !) • Local landmark: Hayden Cabin . China Mt Quad, Mountain or Hillside Slopes, Slope Position: Upper Third, Vertical Slope Shape: Convex, Horizontal Slope Shape: Convex, Very Gravelly texture composed mainly of serpentine with a colluvial origin, 41.285611, - 122.694556, 1737 m elevation, 2 July 1978, Clifton & Ground 1758 ( PUA - CardNumber 15387!) • Local landmark: Hayden Cabin . China Mt Quad, Mountain or Hillside Slopes, Slope Position: Upper Third, Vertical Slope Shape: Convex, Horizontal Slope Shape: Convex, Gravelly texture composed mainly of serpentine with a colluvial origin, 41.285611, - 122.694556, 1737 m elevation, 2 July 1978, Clifton & Ground 1799 ( PUA - CardNumber 15438!) • Near Rock Fence Lake . China Mt Quad, close to the town of Callahan, Slope Position: Middle Third, Vertical Slope Shape: Smooth, Horizontal Slope Shape: Smooth, Gravelly texture composed mainly of serpentine with a colluvial origin, 41.336528, - 122.609111, 2100 m elevation, 1 August 1978, G. J. Muth 6998 ( PUA - CardNumber 14174!) • Local landmark: Cory Peak . China Mt Quad, Mountain or Hillside Slopes, Slope Position: Upper Third, Vertical Slope Shape: Smooth, Horizontal Slope Shape: Smooth, Very Gravelly texture composed mainly of serpentine with a colluvial origin, 41.333139, - 122.603861, 2196 m elevation, 1 August 1978, G. J. Muth 6960 ( PUA - CardNumber 14173!) • The Eddy’s, ca. 30 metres northwest of Pacific Crest Trail, near Parks Creek Trailhead , along old, compacted road, Open, rocky alpine vegetation, tan, clay loam of rocky, gravelly, serpintine outcrop, annual herb, 6 cm tall, corolla white with yellow centre (fornices), limb 4–5 mm broad, Not common. Ca. 40 individuals seen a few yards (metres) north on east side of road. Leaf material preserved in silica gel for genetic studies, 41.34464, - 122.53864, 2099 m elevation, 28 June 2021, M. G. Simpson & Lee M. Simpson 4760 ( SDSU 23504 !) • Scott Valley, Weston Gulch , barren serpentine ridge, 41.462668, - 122.825083, 990 m elevation, 14 June 2015, J. J. Whipple 7131 ( SDSU 22884 !) • Scott Valley, below Denny Point on hillside , Open serpentine north facing slope with scattered junipers, 41.4599, - 122.828517, 990 m elevation, 31 May 2016, J. J. Whipple 7270 ( SDSU 23523 !) • Slopes above Scott Valley below Denny Point , barren rabbitbrush steppe on serpentine, 41.462683, - 122.825, 990 m elevation, 1 June 2019, J. J. Whipple 7639 ( SDSU 23524 !) • China Hill by Yreka , serpentine barren, 41.743683, - 122.614983, 900 m elevation, 3 June 2019, J. J. Whipple 7645 ( SDSU 23525 !) • Klamath National Forest, slope of Schneider Hill off of Masterson Road , 1.6 miles (2600 m) from Gazelle Callahan Road, Open serpentine barren, 41.32675, - 122.726233, 1095 m elevation, 15 June 2019, J. J. Whipple 7650 ( SDSU 23527 !) • Shasta-Trinity National Forest, The Eddys, ridge between China Mtn. and Mount Eddy a few metres E of the county line , ca. 210 m N-NW of Parks Creek Trailhead, growing in serpentine soils on a S-facing, exposed, gravelly slope, serpentine soil, gravelly, A rare annual with white (appendages yellow) flowers, 41.34458, - 122.53863, 2100 m elevation, 5 July 2016, D. York 3293 ( SDSU 22761 !) • Shasta-Trinity National Forest, The Eddys, ridge between China Mtn. and Mount Eddy a few metres E of the county line , ca. 210 m N-NW of Parks Creek Trailhead. A rare annual with white (appendages yellow) flowers, growing in serpentine soils on a S-facing, exposed, gravelly slope. 41.34461, - 122.53862, 2100 m elevation, 10 July 2017, D. York 3322 ( CAS 1352445 !, HSC 105849 !) .

Figures

Figure 1. Site of holotype of Cryptantha whippleae, a rocky, serpentine outcrop. Seen in this 18 June 2022 photograph, from left to right, are: Jennifer Whipple, Ellen Uhler, Michael Uhler and Dana York. Photo by Julie Kierstead.

Figure 2. Field shots of Cryptantha whippleae at holotype locality A upper part of plant. Note terminal bifurcate cymules at apex of primary stem; lateral cymules are solitary B close-up of a single cymule. Note hispid vestiture along sepal mid-ribs C ascendingly orientated stem leaf, abaxial surface showing hispid vestiture along raised mid-rib D close-up of corolla, showing yellow fornices and relatively large limb (this one ca. 5 mm wide) E several plants in the field at the type locality. Note small stature of plants and surrounding rocky, gravelly serpentine substrate F free nutlets (from various fruits), characteristically smooth and shiny, ovate to lance-ovate, abaxially transversely flattened, apically acuminate.

Figure 6. Comparison of stem vestiture (left) and fruits (right) of A Cryptantha whippleae B Cryptantha grandiflora and C Cryptantha milobakeri. Stems of C. grandiflora and C. whippleae are similarly both strigose and spreading hispid. Stems of C. milobakeri are mostly strigose, sometimes also with spreading, fine-hirsute trichomes. Fruiting calyces of C. grandiflora and C. whippleae are marginally appressed hirsute and coarse hispid along the mid-rib. Those of C. milobakeri characteristically have one type of trichomes, consisting of appressed to ascending, soft, whitish, hirsute trichomes. Accession numbers of specimens indicated.