A REVIEW OF CRYPTANTHA FULVOCANESCENS (BORAGINACEAE) AND RE-EVALUATION OF GREENE'S OREOCARYA NITIDA

Cryptantha fulvocanescens has a long history of confused taxonomie treatment, exacerbated primarily by the persistent misinterpretation of Cryptantha echinoides. Oreocarya nitida was mistakenly submerged into synonymy of C. fulvocanescens in 1927. It has remained in obscurity because of the many confusing treatments of this variable and difficult group of taxa. Cryptantha fulvocanescens var. nitida is a new combination for a taxon endemic to the upper Colorado River Basin. It is distinguished from var. fulvocanescens most notably by the dense silvery pubescence on the inner surfaces of its calyx lobes.