3. Polanisia erosa (Nuttall) H. H. Iltis, Brittonia. 10: 56. 1958.
Large clammyweed
Cristatella erosa Nuttall, J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 7: 86, plate 9, fig. 1. 1834 (as Cristella)
Annuals, 10-60 cm. Stems branched or unbranched; hairs sessile or stalked, glandular throughout. Leaves: petiole purple, angled, 0.3-1.5 cm; leaflet blade (conduplicate) ,linear to narrowly elliptic, 0.9-3.5 × 0.1-0.2 cm, margins entire, apex acute, mucronulate, surfaces densely glandular abaxially, sparsely glandular adaxially, (fleshy). Racemes (glandular), 1-3 cm (6-8 cm in fruit); bracts uni- to trifoliate, ovate, 7-15 mm. Pedicels 10-23 mm. Flowers: sepals (± erect), green to purple, lanceolate to obovate, 2.5-3.6 × 0.8-1.2 mm, margins entire, apex acute, glabrous; petals white, oblong-ovate, clawed, abaxial pair 3-5 × 2.5-3 mm (9 or 10-lobed), apex lacerate, adaxial pair 6-11 × 3.5-5 mm (4-6-lobed), apex emarginate to lacerate; nectary glands yellow (drying purple), 1-5.5 mm; stamens 6-15, exserted, purple, 10-13 mm; anthers purple, 1-1.5 mm; gynophore 3-14 mm in fruit; ovary 5-8 mm; style persistent in fruit, 2.5-4.5 mm; stigma green. Capsules 20-60 × 2-2.5(-5) mm, reticulate, glabrous or sparsely glandular. Seeds 12-40, dark reddish brown, globose to oblong, 1.5-1.8 mm, finely pebbled or beaded.
Subspecies 2 (2 in the flora): sc United States.
