Ipomopsis spicata

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ipomopsis spicata
Ipomopsis spicata subsp. spicata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Polemoniaceae
Genus: Ipomopsis
Species:
I. spicata
Binomial name
Ipomopsis spicata

Ipomopsis spicata, commonly known as the spiked ipomopsis,[1] is a species of plant in the phlox family. It is native to the western United States, where it is widespread from the western Great Plains to the Uintah Basin, south to New Mexico and north to Montana. It is found in a variety of habitats, from dry lowlands to above the timberline.[2]

It is a perennial that produces a cream colored flowers in the spring.

Taxonomy[edit]

This species is highly variable through its range. Due to its occupation of many ecologically distinct and geographically isolated habitats, many subspecies and variety have been named. The currently recognized infraspecific taxa are:[2]

  • I. spicata ssp. capitata - endemic to the Collegiate Peaks of Colorado
  • I. spicata ssp. tridactyla - endemic to the Markagunt Plateau of Utah
  • I. spicata ssp. orchidacea
    • var. cephaloidea - mountains of Montana and Wyoming
    • var. orchidacea - mountains of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming
  • I. spicata ssp. roburthii - endemic to the Absaroka Range of Wyoming
  • I. spicata ssp. spicata - widespread in the Rocky Mountains and western Great Plains

References[edit]

  1. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Ipomopsis spicata". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  2. ^ a b Wilken, Dieter; Hartman, Ronald (1991). "A Revision of the Ipomopsis spicata Complex (Polemoniaceae)". Systematic Botany. 16 (1): 143–161. doi:10.2307/2418979. JSTOR 2418979.