Carterella
Carterella is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae.[1][2][3] The genus contains only one species, viz. Carterella alexanderae, which is endemic to Baja California Sur in Mexico. It grows on steep slopes in the mountains.[4]
| Carterella | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Subfamily: | Rubioideae |
| Tribe: | Spermacoceae |
| Genus: | Carterella Terrell |
| Species: | C. alexanderae |
| Binomial name | |
| Carterella alexanderae (A.M.Carter) Terrell | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Description
This species is a woody perennial that grows 30 to 60 cm tall, with terete stems. The leaves are 15 to 45 mm long, and 3 to 10 mm wide, opposite or occasionally formed in whorls of three, shaped linear-lanceolate, and acute at their apex.[2]
The flowers grow on a 5 to 12 flowered compact cyme, borne on pedicels up to 1 cm long. There are 4 calyx lobes, shaped lance-linear, and 4 to 5 mm long, 1 to 1.5 mm wide at the base. The corolla is salverform and colored white, with the corolla tube 2.5 to 3.5 cm long, the throat 2 mm in diameter, and the lobes shaped oblong, 8 to 10 mm long and 4 to 5 mm wide. The seeds are wingless.[2]
Taxonomy
The specific epithet was named by Annetta M. Carter in memory of her friend Annie M. Alexander, who assisted Carter in botanizing the Baja California Peninsula.[2] The genus is named in honor of Carter herself, after the species was found not to belong in Bouvardia or Hedyotis.[1]
Distribution
This plant is endemic to Baja California Sur and occurs only in the Cape region.[5] The type specimen was found growing on steep granite talus.[2]
References
- Terrell, Edward Everett. 1987. Brittonia 39(2): 250, Carterella alexanderae
- Carter, Annetta Mary. 1955. Madroño 13(4): 142–144, f. 1–2. Bouvardia alexanderae
- Lewis, Walter Hepworth. 1968. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 55(1): 31 Hedyotis alexanderae
- "Carterella in the World Checklist of Rubiaceae". Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- Rebman, J. P.; Gibson, J.; Rich, K. (2016). "Annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Baja California, Mexico" (PDF). San Diego Society of Natural History. 45: 247.