12. Pleuricospora A. Gray, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts. 7: 369. 1868.
[Greek pleurikos, of the side, and spora, sown seed, alluding to parietal placentation]
Gary D. Wallace
Herbs, achlorophyllous, heterotrophic. Stems absent. Leaves absent. Inflorescences racemes, erect at emergence from soil, axis fleshy but not fibrous, persistent after seed dispersal, cream to yellowish, 1.5-3 cm diam. proximal to proximalmost flower. Pedicels erect, somewhat elongate in fruit; bracteoles absent. Flowers radially symmetric, erect; sepals 4, distinct, lanceolate to ovate; petals 4(-5), distinct, cream, without basal tubercles, (surfaces glabrous), corolla tubular-cylindric; intrastaminal nectary disc present; stamens 8, included; filaments ± uniformly slender, glabrous; anthers elongate, without awns, without tubules, dehiscent by 2 longitudinal slits; pistil 4(-6)-carpellate; ovary 1-locular; placentation intruded-parietal; style straight, slender; stigma crownlike, (2 mm diam.), without subtending ring of hairs. Fruits baccate, erect, fleshy, indehiscent. Seeds 25-100, ovoid, not winged. x = 13.
Species 1: w North America.
SELECTED REFERENCE Copeland, H. F. 1937. The reproductive structures of Pleuricospora. Madroño 4: 1-16.
