Jepson Herbarium
		University of California, Berkeley

Directory       News       Site Map       Home

Indexes to all accepted names and synonyms: | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |

Annual, perennial herb, shrub, generally fleshy.
Stem: underground to erect; root fibrous or tuberous.
Leaf: generally simple, entire, flat, cylindric, 3-angled, or scale-like, generally cauline, generally opposite; stipules generally 0; blade papillate, pubescent, or generally glabrous, often glaucous.
Inflorescence: cyme or 1-flowered, generally terminal.
Flower: generally bisexual, radial; hypanthium present; sepals (3)5(8), often unequal; petals 0 or many in several whorls, free or fused at base, linear; stamens 1–many, free or fused in groups, outer often petal-like; nectary a ring or separate glands; pistil 1, ovary superior to inferior, chambers 1–20, placentas generally parietal, styles 0–20.
Fruit: berry, nut, or generally capsule, opening by flaps or circumscissile.
Seed: 1–many per chamber, generally ovoid, arilled or not.
130 genera, 2500 species: generally subtrop, especially s Africa; many cultivated. [Hartmann 2002 Illus Handbook Succulent Plants Aizoaceae A-E (Vol 1) and F-Z (Vol 2). Springer; Vivrette et al. 2003 FNANM 4:75–91] Galenia pubescens (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Druce, a waif, may be naturalizing in s CA. —Scientific Editors: Bruce G. Baldwin, Thomas J. Rosatti.
Unabridged references: [Ferren et al. 1981 Madroño 28:80–85; Smith 1998 Mesembs of the World. Briza.]
Unabridged note: Disphyma crassifolium (L.) L. Bolus (ovary glands convex, minute-crenate; stigmas dense-plumose; fruit chambers 5; seeds ovate, ± smooth), of tribe Ruschieae, an historical waif in CA; Lampranthus coccineus (Haw.) N.E. Br.: (ovary glands fused; fruit chambers 5; seeds pear-shaped, ± black, rough), of Ruschieae, an historical waif or urban weed in CA.

Key to Aizoaceae

Annual [ perennial herb, shrub], branched from base, glabrous, hairy, or papillate, ± fleshy.
Stem: generally prostrate.
Leaf: ± opposite, 2 of pair unequal; stipules papery; blade linear to round, base tapered, margin entire.
Inflorescence: generally 1-flowered; bracts 2.
Flower: sepals 5, with abaxial mucro just below tip; petals 0; stamens 5–10[20]; ovary superior, chambers 1–2, ovules 1–few, placentas basal, styles 1–2.
Fruit: capsule, papery or leathery, circumscissile; lid winged.
Seed: reniform, rough, arilled.
20 species: tropics, subtrop, especially Australia. (Greek: 3-flowered)

Stem: < 10 dm, in youth with lines of hairs below petioles.
Leaf: stipules widened, occasionally ± toothed at base; blade < 4 cm, smaller on twigs, generally = petiole, elliptic to ± round, base tapered, tip often notched.
Inflorescence: flower sessile, ± covered by stipule.
Flower: sepals 3–5, ± 2.5 mm, lanceolate, ± purple adaxially; ovary chamber 1, stigmas 2.
Fruit: 4–5 mm, cylindric, ± curved; wings of lid 2, prominent, erect.
Seed: 1.5–2 mm, ridged, red-brown to black.
Uncommon. Moist or seasonally dry wetlands, disturbed areas; < 1000 m. San Joaquin Valley, Desert;

Previous taxon: Trianthema
Next taxon: Amaranthaceae

Contact/Feedback

Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) [year] Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html [accessed on month, day, year]
Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on [month, day, year].

Copyright © 2012 Regents of the University of California
We encourage links to these pages, but the content may not be downloaded for reposting, repackaging, redistributing, or sale in any form, without written permission from The Jepson Herbarium.

Bioregions in which taxon occurs	Red area (if present) is the part of the bioregion lying between the upper and lower elevation limits of the taxon; markers link to CCH specimen records. If the markers are obscured, reload the page [or change window size and reload]. Yellow markers indicate records that may have georeferencing or identification issues.
Chart based on elevation range in Manual and elevations and coordinates of CCH records. Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria. Note: About half of the CCH records include both elevation and coordinates.	Map made in collaboration with Scott Loarie. Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria. View all CCH records   CCH collections by month Duplicates counted once; synonyms included. Species do not include records of infraspecific taxa. Blue line denotes Manual flowering time.