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 Edit this 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
  • Bouvardia alexanderae A.M.Carter
  • Hedyotis alexanderae (A.M.Carter) W.H.Lewis

Description

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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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b Terrell, Edward Everett. 1987. Brittonia 39(2): 250, Carterella alexanderae
  2. ^ a b c d e Carter, Annetta Mary. 1955. Madroño 13(4): 142–144, f. 1–2. Bouvardia alexanderae
  3. ^ Lewis, Walter Hepworth. 1968. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 55(1): 31 Hedyotis alexanderae
  4. ^ "Carterella in the World Checklist of Rubiaceae". Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  5. ^ 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.
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