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Cornsalad

Also known as: Limestone cornsalad

Valerianella radiata (L.) Dufr.

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Cornsalad habit
Cornsalad
Cornsalad flowers
Cornsalad flowers
Cornsalad leaves
Cornsalad leaves
Cornsalad leaves
Cornsalad habit

Morphology

Stem
Erect, dichotomously branched distally, glabrous or sparsely pubescent on angles, not prickly.
Leaves
Basal and cauline, opposite, simple; stipules absent: petiole absent; blade spatulate to oblong or lanceolate, .2 to 3.5 inches long, .16 to .86 inch wide, base connate, margins entire or remotely dentate proximally, minutely ciliate, apex rounded. Inflorescences terminal, cymes; bracts 2.
Inflorescence
Cymes, terminal; bracts 2.
Flower
Calyx lobes 0; corolla essentially radially symmetric, white, funnelform, 5-lobed, .06 to .08 inch, obscurely gibbous abaxially on tube; stamens 2, anthers exserted; stigma 3-lobed, exserted.
Fruit
Achenes, yellow, ovoid, .06 to .08 inch, glabrous or hairy, not crowned by calyx; seed 1, .05 to .07 inch, smooth.

Ecology

Habitat
Mesic tallgrass prairies, glades, open woods, roadsides
Distribution
East 1/3 of Kansas

Additional Notes

Comments

Valerianella genus Valeriana + diminutive suffix and radiate, having rays, alluding to the inflorescence. Formerly treated as Valerianaceae, the Valerian Family.

Quick Facts
Plant Type
Wildflower
Family
Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle Family
Life Span
Annual
Height
3.2 to 20 inches
Origin
Native
Last Updated
2016-05-01
Color Groups
White, Green & Greenish White Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Blooms: April, May, June