Chaenorhinum origanifolium (L.) Fourr.

Species Nomenclature and Growth Form

Chaenorhinum origanifolium (L.) Fourr. is a non-cespitose perennial herb that grows up to 40 cm tall. It is glabrous or glandular-pubescent in its lower third, and densely glandular-pubescent with a whitish appearance in its upper portion.

Stem Characteristics

Stems range from relatively thick and rigid to thin and flexuous; they can be erect, ascending, or prostrate, simple or branched from the base, and purple at the base.

Leaf Morphology

Leaves measure 4–23 mm long by 2–13 mm wide, with petioles 1.5–4.5 mm long; leaf shapes range from suborbicular to oblanceolate, leaf apexes range from acute to obtuse, and leaves taper at the base.

Inflorescence Traits

Inflorescences hold 2–25 flowers and are lax.

Flower Pedicel Features

Flower pedicels are 5–30 mm long, growing to 10–32 mm long during fruiting; they are straight, erect or erect-patent, and slightly thickened.

Calyx Morphology

The calyx holds linear-spatulate, subacute, subequal sepals that are purplish-green, with dense glandular-pubescent covering on the outer surface.

Capsule Characteristics

The capsule is 2.5–5.5 mm long, subglobose, shorter than the calyx, and has subequal, smooth, glandular-pubescent locules.

Seed Morphology

Seeds measure 0.5–0.9 mm long by 0.4–0.5 mm wide, crested, and dark brown or black; the longitudinal crests are sinuous, continuous, sometimes slightly anastomose, smooth, and taller than they are broad.