Dwarf evax

Stylocline acaulis Kellogg, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 7: 112. 1877 (as acaule); Evax acaulis (Kellogg) Greene

Plants 0.5–7 cm. Stems 0 or 1–10, erect to prostrate; branches usually 0, sometimes proximal and/or distal. Leaves basal or cauline, sessile or petiolate, distal congested, larger than proximal (if present), largest 4–22(–32) × 0.5–4(–5) mm; petioles: lengths 0–1.5 times blade lengths, bases scarcely thickened, pliant to somewhat cartilaginous; capitular leaves 6–12 (rarely more) per glomerule or head, whorled, ± erect or distally spreading, unlike pistillate paleae. Heads terminal, borne singly or, rarely, in dense glomerules (3–7 mm diam.) of 2–8 mixed with leaves and, rarely, some borne singly in axils (then smaller), campanulate, 2–4 × 1.5–3.5 mm, heights 1–1.5 times diams. Receptacles distinct, 0.9–1.9 × 0.8–1.7 mm. Pistillate paleae in 2–5 series, spirally ranked, broadly spatulate, 1–3 mm. Staminate paleae surpassing pistillate, 1.6–3.2 mm, lengths 0.6–0.8 times head heights; apices spreading. Functionally staminate florets 2–5(–12); corollas 0.6–1 mm. Cypselae 0.6–1.6 mm.

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora): sw United States.

The varieties of Hesperevax acaulis show enough geographic and ecologic segregation correlated with morphologic differences to warrant taxonomic recognition. Across west-central California, where all three are broadly sympatric, the varieties tend to occur in different habitats and/or elevation zones. Intermediate specimens are difficult to assign with confidence.