Low perennial herbs, somewhat woody, with alternate deeply pinnatifid or palmatifid leaves, their segments subulate and spinescent, the rather large flowers terminal, clustered or solitary. Calyx 4-5-lobed, the lobes spinescent, the sinuses not scarious but membranous. Corolla funnel form, 4-5-lobed, the lobes somewhat spreading Stamens short. Capsule at length distending the calyx-tube, many-seeded. [Greek, referring to the deeply divided leaves.]

Three or four species, natives of western North America. Type species: Leptodactylon cali-fornicum H. & A.

1. Leptodactylon Caespitosum Nutt. Tufted Sharp-Leaved Gilia

Fig. 3479

L. caespitosum Nutt. Journ. Acad. Phila. II. 1: 157. 1847.

Gilia pungens caespitosa A. Gray, Proc. Am. Acad. 8: 268. 1870.

Gilia caespitosa A. Nelson, Bull. Torr. Club 25: 546. 1898. Not A. Gray.

Much branched and tufted from a thick buried woody base, 3 -'5' high. Leaves densely fascicled and imbricated, 3-5-parted, 4" long or less, the segments subulate, spinulose-tipped, glabrous, or the margins ciliate; bases of the old leaves persistent; calyx about half as long as the corolla-tube, 4-lobed, the lobes subulate; corolla white or yellowish, sal-verform, the tube about 6" long, the limb 4-lobed; stamens 4.

Dry bluffs, western Nebraska and Wyoming. June-Sept.

Leptodactylon pungens Nutt. [Gilia pungens (Torr.) Benth.], of western North America, illustrated in our first edition, where the above species was regarded as a variety of it, is not known to occur within our area.