Western Mousetail

Description

Myosurus nitidus Herbs , 1-1.9 cm. Leaf blades linear or very narrowly oblanceolate, 0.6-1.2 cm. Inflorescences: scape 0.5-0.9 cm. Flowers: sepals sometimes strongly veined, scarious margins narrow or broad; petal claw 3 times as long as blade. Heads of achenes 8-17 - 2-2.5 mm, exserted from leaves. Achenes: outer face orbiculate to rhombic, 0.8-1 - 0.6-0.8 mm, 1-1.3 times as high as wide, not bordered; beak 0.8-1 mm, 0.8-1.2 as long as outer face of achene, diverging (sometimes weakly) from outer face of achene, heads of achenes thus -roughened by projecting achene beaks. Flowering spring. Under sagebrush; 1800-2100 m; Ariz., Colo., N.Mex.