Introduction
Billieturnera is a monotypic genus of Malvaceous herbs, found in south east Texas and north east Mexico. The genus was erected in 1982, by P.A. Fryxell, for a plant previously placed in Sida.
Classification
The sole species, B. helleri (Rose) Fryxell, was described by J.N. Rose in 1895.
The genus is placed in Malveae, close to Abutilon, Sida, and allied genera.
Billieturnera helleri (Rose) Fryxell
Billieturnera helleri is an ascendent to procumbent shrub. The leaves are small, being 0.5-1.5 cm long, and about as wide. They are cuneiform, with a dentate to subentire margin. The stipules are broadly oblanceolate, and are prominent (nearly as long as the petiole) and persistent. The flowers are borne solitarily. They lack an epicalyx. The calyx is deeply divided, with triangular lobes. The corolla is somewhat larger than the calyx, with yellow petals. The androecium is pale, and the staminal column also pubescent. The style is pale, and is 5-branched, with capitate stigmas. The fruit is a schizocarp, composed of 5 single-seeded mericarps, which are elliptic in cross-section, and possess a dorsal keel and an apical spine.
Synonyms of Billieturnera helleri include Sida cuneifolia Gray, Sida grayana I. Clem. and Sida helleri Rose
The chromosome count is 16.
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© 2004 Stewart Robert Hinsley