Leavenworthia aurea Torrey var. texana (Mahler) Rollins

Stems (when present) 1-2 dm. Basal leaves: petiole 1.5-4 cm; blade 3.5-5 cm, lobes 0-4 on each side, margins shallowly dentate, terminal lobe transversely broadly oblong, 0.6-0.7 cm × 8-11 mm, (distinctly shorter than wide), considerably larger than lateral lobes, margins slightly lobed or shallowly dentate. Fruiting pedicels: solitary flowers 30-70 mm; racemes 20-40 mm. Flowers: sepals widely spreading, oblong-linear, 3.9-4.5 × 1.4-1.8 mm; petals spreading, bright yellow, narrowly obovate, 7.3-9 × 2-3 mm, claw dark yellow, 2.6-3.3 mm, apex shallowly emarginate, apical notch 0.1-0.3 mm deep; filaments: median 4-4.5 mm, lateral 2.2-2.5 mm; anthers 0.8-1.3 mm. Fruits oblong, 1.5-2.3 cm × 4-5 mm, smooth, latiseptate, (margined); valves thin; ovules 4-14 per ovary; style 1.7-3 mm. Seeds 3-3.5 mm diam.; wing 0.2-0.4 mm wide; embryo straight. 2n = 22.

Flowering Mar-Apr. Pastures, seepage areas of rock outcrops; of conservation concern; 70-150 m; Tex.

Leavenworthia texana is known only from San Augustine County. It is in the Center for Plant Conservation’s National Collection of Endangered Plants.

Rollins reduced Leavenworthia texana to a variety of L. aurea. The differences in petal color, shape and margin of the terminal lobe, and chromosome number clearly support recognition as distinct species.