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.

FNA 1997, Kearney and Peebles 1969

Duration: Annual Nativity: Native Lifeform: Forb/Herb General: Dwarf annual 1-1.9 cm tall. Leaves: Leaf blades linear or very narrowly oblanceolate, 0.6-1.2 cm. Flowers: Scape 0.5-0.9 cm; sepals strongly veined sometimes, scarious margins narrow or broad; petal claw 3 times as long as blade. Fruits: Heads of achenes 8-17 mm by 2-2.5 mm, exserted from leaves; outer face orbiculate to rhombic, not bordered with beak 0.8-1 mm. Ecology: Found under shrubs from 2,000-8,000 (610-2438 m); flowers in spring. Notes: Told apart by its being tiny, and its achene is not bordered. Ethnobotany: Unknown, but other species in the genera have uses. Etymology: Myosurus translates to mouse- tail, pertaining to receptacle when mature, while nitidus means shining, lustrous, or whitish, referring to the pods. Synonyms: Myosurus eglestonii Wooten & Standl. Editor: SBuckley, 2010