Edwin B. Smith in his book "Keys to the Flora of Arkansas", (The Ozark Society Foundation , 1994) describes Berlandiera pumila as "Stem densely white-tomentose, the hairs fine and not spreading; upper surface of leaves smooth, with sparse tomentose hairs; mid-stem leaves usually evidently petiolate with rounded to truncate bases."
The plant that I have photographed and identified as Berlandiera pumila is more than "densely white-tomentose". The stem is blanketed with tomentose hairs like you would not believe unless you saw it for yourself. Other plant identification web sites show B. pumila looking very much the same as the plant images shown here seeming to strongly contradict Smith (above). NO TOMENTOSE HAIRS SEEM PRESENT.
I greatly fear flying in the face of authority, but I must say that what is being shown as B. pumila (here and in other places) seems to me to greatly resemble B. texana. And what about the species B. betonifolia? Well that question would drive me to a local pub if I were so lucky as to have a local pub.
I only know with fair certainty that ITIS indicates that B. texana and B. betonicifolia are both accepted names for two different plants. BONAP shows distribution maps for all three species.
Perhaps the stems of the plants that I have photographed are nothing more than a whimsical trick by a grinning Mother Nature played on whoever it was who wrote this rambling. Perhaps she would suggest, "Justice served!"
I will forward a PDF file of images for your consideration.
It does well in the East Texas heat since it's native to the East Texas area. I bought 5 plants at the Stephen F Austin fall plant sale....Read More I hope to gather enough seeds to greatly increase my number of plants.
This plants flowers like others in the Genera have the distinct aroma of Chocolate. A key attribute important when creating gardens for the blind.
A key from "Flora of North America" indicates "Leaf blades usually ovate, faces velvety; peduncles hairy (hairs whitish, relatively long...Read More
It does well in the East Texas heat since it's native to the East Texas area. I bought 5 plants at the Stephen F Austin fall plant sale....Read More
Soft Green-Eyes Berlandiera pumila is Native to Texas and other States.