Chrysopsis gossypina ssp. gossypina

Chrysopsis gossypina (Michx.) Ell. ssp. gossypinais the most widely distributed and the most morphologically variable subspecies in C. gossypina. The ranges of the three subspecies are sympatric only in northern and panhandle Florida where intermediates occur. The three forms that were recognized (Semple 1981) represent the extremes in variation in phyllary hairiness and glandularity. Many intermediates occur. The f. decumbens can be similar to C. godfrey ssp. godfreyi. The f. trichophylla can be similar to ssp. crusieana but the two ranges are allopatric. 

f. gossypina - upper stem leaves glabrous to densely long-woolly, phyllaries glabrate to woolly, stems procumbent to erect

f.decumbens (Chapman) Godfrey - upper stem leaves greatly reduced and woolly, procumbent stems, head buds not nodding

f. trichophylla (Nutt.) Semple -Upper stem leaves glabrous to pilose,  phyllaries glabrous stems erect

Last revised 18 April 2025 by J.C. Semple

© 2025 J.C. Semple, including all photographs unless otherwise indicated