Facts about Prairie Pleatleaf (Nemastylis geminiflora)

Nemastylis acuta Herb.:
United States (North America)

Small, J. K. 1933. Man. S.E. Fl. i–xxii, 1–1554. Published by the Author, New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1515

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Nemastylis geminiflora Nutt.:
United States (North America)

Anonymous. 1986. List-Based Rec., Soil Conserv. Serv., U.S.D.A. Database of the U.S.D.A., Beltsville. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1103
Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Man. Vasc. Pl. Texas i–xv, 1–1881. The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1493
Great Plains Flora Association. 1986. Fl. Great Plains i–vii, 1–1392. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/637
Fernald, M. 1950. Manual (ed. 8) i–lxiv, 1–1632. American Book Co., New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1327
Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1968. The Pteridophytoa, Gymnospermae and Monocotyledoneae. 1: 1–482. In H. A. Gleason Ill. Fl. N. U.S. (ed. 3). New York Botanical Garden, New York. http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1495

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National Distribution

United States

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

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Morphology

Comments

The flowers of Nemastylis geminiflora open midmorning and fade before sundown.

There seems to be no merit in recognizing Nemastylis texana (E. Whitehouse 1936) for plants from southern Texas, said to have steel-blue flowers, more frequently found in oak woodlands than in prairies. Reports in the literature of N. geminiflora from Tennessee appear to be incorrect, possibly based on an early record from “E. Tennessee” (Dr. Eight s.n., NY).

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Description

Plants slender, 12–40 cm. Bulbs 20–30 mm diam. Stems sturdy, usually branched, mainly from base. Leaves usually 3; blade linear to ensiform, usually exceeding rhipidia, 4–20 mm wide. Rhipidia usually 2-flowered; outer spathe 20–35 mm, inner 30–55 mm, apex dry. Tepals blue, white in center, white zone sometimes edged with dark blue, ovate-lanceolate, 2.5–3 cm; filaments distinct or connate basally, ca. 4 mm; anthers 11–15 mm; ovary conic, 4–5 mm; style branching above base of anthers; branches 5–6 mm. Capsules ovoid, truncate, (10–)14–20 mm. Seeds angular. 2n = 56.

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Diagnostic Description

Synonym

Calydorea texana (Herbert) Baker; Ixia acuta 1822, not Lichtenstein ex Roemer & Schultes 1817; Nemastylis acuta Herbert; N. texana Whitehouse

Flora of North America @ eFloras.org

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Habitat

Habitat & Distribution

Flowering Apr--Jun. Woodlands, prairies, and pastures; Ala., Ark., Kans., La., Miss., Mo., Okla., Tex.

Flora of North America @ eFloras.org

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Conservation Status

National NatureServe Conservation Status

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

Source: NatureServe

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NatureServe Conservation Status

Rounded Global Status Rank: G4 - Apparently Secure

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Nemastylis geminiflora