Piperia leptopetala Rydberg

Piperia leptopetala is uncommon but widely distributed in California. Its flowers have the narrowest sepals and petals of the genus; this gives the inflorescence a lacy appearance. Piperia leptopetala blooms earlier than sympatric P. transversa and P. elongata, two species with which it is sometimes confused.

Plants 13–70 cm. Stems uniform toward base, 0.7–3.4 mm diam.; bracts 2–6(–12). Leaves ± prostrate; blade 6.5–15 × 1.5–3 cm. Inflorescences densely flowered, 4–40 cm; rachis usually longer than peduncle; bracts 5–11 mm. Flowers pale green, translucent; fragrance nocturnal, delicate, ± lemony or otherwise pleasant; sepals oblong, 2.5–5 × 0.7–1.6 mm; lateral sepals recurved; petals erect, strongly upwardly recurved, straight, linear, spreading to form a V, 3–6 × 0.6–1.3 mm, apex long-acuminate; lip projecting to ± deflexed, narrowly lanceolate, 2.5–5 × 0.8–2.5 mm; spur deflexed, curved, tapered, 4–9 mm; viscidia broadly elliptic-ovate, 0.25–0.45 × 0.2–0.3 mm; rostellum slightly elongate. Capsules 4–9 mm. Seeds cinnamon brown.

Calif.

Flowering May--Jul.

Woodlands and chaparral, sometimes on serpentine soils; 100--2200m.