Jepson Herbarium
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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 to shrub, or non-green root parasite, generally bristly or sharp-hairy.
Stem: prostrate to erect.
Leaf: cauline, often with basal rosette, simple or compound, generally alternate.
Inflorescence: cymes, generally elongate, panicle-, raceme-, or spike-like, generally coiled in flower (often described as scorpioid), generally uncoiled in fruit, or heads, spikes, or panicles, or flowers 1–2 per axil.
Flower: bisexual, generally radial; sepals (4)5(10), fused at least at base, or free; corolla generally (4)5(10)-lobed, salverform, funnel-shaped, rotate, or bell-shaped, appendages 0 or 5 at top of tube, alternate stamens; stamens epipetalous; ovary superior, entire to 4-lobed, style 1(2), entire or 2-lobed or -branched.
Fruit: nutlets 1–4, free ( fused), smooth to roughened, prickly or bristly or not, or valvate or circumscissile capsule.
± 120 genera, ± 2300 species: tropics, temperate, especially w North America, Medit; some cultivated (Borago, Heliotropium, Echium, Myosotis, Nemophila, Phacelia, Symphytum). Many genera may be TOXIC from pyrrolizidine alkaloids or accumulated nitrates. [Olmsted et al. 2000 Molec Phylogen Evol 16:96–112] Recently treated to include Hydrophyllaceae, Lennoaceae. —Scientific Editors: Ronald B. Kelley, Robert Patterson, Bruce G. Baldwin, Thomas J. Rosatti.

Key to Boraginaceae

Perennial or generally annual, hairy.
Leaf: cauline, generally alternate, simple, margin crenate-dentate or generally entire, wavy, flat, or rolled under.
Inflorescence: heads or generally clusters, terminal, not coiled, or flowers 1–2 in leaf axils; bracts 0 or generally leaf-like.
Flower: calyx generally free from ovary; corolla salverform to bell-shaped, occasionally cylindric; stamens generally attached to corolla at different levels, generally unequal, part fused to corolla generally narrow-winged, scales at base 0; styles 1–2.
Fruit: generally loculicidal, ovoid to elliptic.
Seed: generally many, small, red-brown, brown, black, or yellow to orange.
± 55 species: sw US, tropical America, HI. (Greek: a stream) Nama lobbii A. Gray now in Eriodictyon.
Unabridged references: [Ferguson 1998 Syst Bot 23:253–268; Hitchcock 1933 Amer J Bot 20:415–430, 518–534]

Hairs generally dense, fine to coarse, generally mealy- glandular, bases swollen.
Stem: prostrate, 3–20 cm, forked.
Inflorescence: pedicels 0–5 mm.
Flower: corolla funnel-shaped to salverform; stamens attached 2–4 mm above corolla base; styles 2.
Seed: ± 0.5 mm, spheric to ovoid, brown to black, ± cross-ridged, with depressions. [Online Interchange]

Plant generally gray-green, hairs 0.5–1.2 mm, soft, shaggy.
Leaf: petiole 1.5–5 mm, winged; blade 5–13 mm, elliptic to diamond-shaped.
Flower: calyx lobes 4–8 mm, linear to oblanceolate; corolla 8–12 mm, blue-violet to pink, limb 8–9 mm diam, lobes 2–4 mm, 3–4 mm wide; stamens 3–6 mm; styles 2–4 mm.
Fruit: 2–5 mm.
Seed: black.
Dry, sandy flats, slopes; 30–900 m. n Mojave Desert (Death Valley region, rare Ivanpah Valley).

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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].

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Bioregions in which taxon occurs	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 provide evidence for eFlora range revision or 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.	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.