small-flowered nemophila (smallflower nemophila)
Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Map
Distribution of Nemophila parviflora var. parviflora
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Species Information
General:
Annual herb from a taproot; stems prostrate to ascending, widely branching, appressed stiff-hairy, 5-30 cm long/tall.
Leaves:
Stem leaves opposite or a few upper leaves alternate, pinnatifid with 5(7) oblong lobes, the blades 1-3.5 cm long, 0.8-2.5 cm wide, stalked, appressed-hairy on both sides or spreading-hairy below; basal leaves, if present, similar, few.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of solitary, stalked axillary flowers; corollas lavender, bell-shaped, 1-3 mm long, 2-4.5 mm wide; calyces equal or sub-equal to the corollas, 5-lobed, the lobes hairy and fringed, broadly lanceolate; calyx appendages 1 mm long, 1/4-1/2 as long as the calyx lobes, reflexed.
Fruits:
Capsules; seeds 2-4, 2-2.5 mm long, irregularly pitted.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Habitat and Range
Mesic disturbed areas and open forests in the lowland zone; common on SE Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, rare on the lower mainland; S to ID, UT and CA.Status Information
Taxonomic Keys
1. Leaves alternate; corollas shorter than calyces; seeds usually solitary..................................N. breviflora
1. Leaves opposite, sometimes the upper ones alternate; corollas equalling or surpassing the calyces; seeds 2-8. 2. Calyces with well developed, earlike lobes that are 1-3 mm long at maturity, 1/2-3/4 (or fully) as long as the proper lobes...................................N. pedunculata 2. Calyces with short, earlike lobes that are about 1 mm long at maturity, 1/4-1/2 as long as the proper lobes...............................................N. parviflora |