Habit: Shrub, evergreen.
Stem: < 2.5 m.
Leaf: generally opposite, petioled or not; stipules 0.
Inflorescence: panicle-like or flowers 1.
Flower: sepals 3 or 5; petals 4--5, white (often drying +- yellow) or rose to purple, with red or yellow near base or not, often +- wrinkled; ovary 1-chambered, placentas 5, style 0 or 1, stigma large, hemispheric, 5--12-lobed.
Fruit: valves 5--12.
Species In Genus: +- 20 species: Mediterranean; cultivated as ornamental.
Etymology: (Ancient Greek name)
Note: Plants including hybrids sometimes escape cultivation; scented resin from some species may be myrrh of biblical, other references.
Jepson eFlora Author: John W. Thieret & Elizabeth McClintock, final revision by Thomas J. Rosatti & Bruce G. Baldwin
Reference: Guzman & Vargas 2005 Molec Phylogen Evol 37:644--660
Index of California Plant Names (ICPN; linked via the Jepson Online Interchange)Key to Cistus
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