LAXA Moran & C.H.Uhl, 1995

Distribution : Mexico (Sonora, Chihuahua, Sinaloa); rocks in mountain forests, 1900 - 2300 m.

Description (according to IHSP, 2003) :

Herbs.

Roots thickened, to 12 mm in diameter.

Stems annuaI, at least apically roughly papillose, 10 - 30 x 0.3 cm, base short, woody and persistent, to 5 x 0.6 cm.

Leaves lanceolate, subulate, obscurely pointed, spurred, apically papillose, 5 - 35 x 2 - 4 mm, greyish.

Inflorescences lax spikes or thyrses, 5 - 20 x 1 - 2.5 cm, with 10 - 30 scorpioid branches 0.5 - 3 cm long with 1 - 4 fIowers each, pedicels absent or to 2 mm.

Flowers : Sepals erect, lanceolate, obscurely pointed, spurred, apically papillose, somewhat unequal, 2.5 - 3.5 x 1 - 1.5 mm, corolla 4 - 6 mm in diam., petals seemingly spreading, dorsally keeled, 3 mm, pale rose with paler margins, tube  ± 1 mm, lobes ovate, acute, subapically aristate, 2 x 1.5 - 2 mm.

Cytology : n = 14

Probably closest to V. minutiflora and V. squamulosa according to the protologue. The protologue erroneously stated the type locality to be in Sinaloa, which was later corrected (Uhl & Moran 1999).