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Jepson Interchange (more information)
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BORAGINACEAE

BORAGE FAMILY

Annual, perennial herb, shrubs, generally bristly or sharply hairy
Stem prostrate to erect
Leaves cauline, often with basal rosette, generally simple, alternate; lower sometimes opposite, entire
Inflorescence: cyme, generally elongate, panicle-, raceme- or spike-like, coiled in flower, generally uncoiled in fruit or flowers 1–2 per axil
Flowers generally bisexual, generally radial; sepals 5, free or fused in lower half; corolla 5-lobed, generally salverform, top of tube generally appendaged, appendages 5, alternating with stamens, sometimes arching over tube; stamens 5, epipetalous; ovary superior, generally 4-lobed, style generally entire
Fruit: nutlets 1–4, smooth to variously roughened, sometimes prickly or bristled
Genera in family: ± 100 genera, ± 2000 species: tropical, temp, especially w North America, Medit; some cultivated (Borago, Echium, Myosotis, Symphytum ). Almost all genera may be TOXIC from alkaloids or accumulated nitrates
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated to include Hydrophyllaceae [Olmsted et al. 2000 Mol Phylog Evol 16:96–112]
Family description, key to genera by Timothy C. Messick.

AMSINCKIA

FIDDLENECK

Fred R. Ganders

Annual; hairs generally bristly, often with bulbous bases
Stem generally erect, 2–12 dm, generally green
Leaves basal and cauline, alternate, sessile or lower short-petioled, generally linear to narrowly lanceolate or oblong, generally ± entire
Inflorescence spike-like, generally ± terminal; tip coiled
Flower generally radial; calyx lobes 5, sometimes appearing to be 2–4 from fusion; corolla orange or yellow, limb generally with 5 red-orange marks
Fruit: nutlets erect, ± triangular, generally with oval lateral scar, generally with round or sharp tubercles
Species in genus: 10 species: w North America, sw South America, widely alien elsewhere
Etymology: (W. Amsinck, patron of Hamburg Botanic Garden, early 19th century)
Reference: [Ray & Chisaki 1957 Amer J Bot 44:529–554]
Self-compatible; often heterostylous; large-flowered taxa generally cross-pollinated, small-flowered self-pollinated. Seeds and herbage TOXIC to livestock (especially cattle) from alkaloids and high nitrate concentrations. Sharp plant hairs irritate human skin.

Native

A. spectabilis Fisch. & C.A. Mey.


Leaf: margin finely toothed
Flower: calyx lobes 5, sometimes 2–3 ± half fused; corolla 7–19 mm, 5–14 mm wide at top, yellow, tube 10-veined near base
Fruit 1–2 mm; surface tubercled, sometimes ridged
Ecology: Sandy places, including coastal dunes
Elevation: < 100 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, Channel Islands
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, Baja California
Varieties intergrade in s CCo (near Morro Bay).

Native

var. microcarpa (Greene) Jeps. & Hoover


Stem erect
Flower: all calyx lobes free; corolla 12–19 mm, 8–14 mm wide at top
Fruit 1–1.5 mm, not ridged; tubercles sharp
Ecology: Stabilized dunes
Elevation: < 100 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Central Coast (<20 km inland from coast, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara cos.). Heterostylous
Horticultural information: SUN: 14, 15, 16, 17, 24.

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bioregional map for AMSINCKIA%20spectabilis%20var.%20microcarpa being generated
 
N.B. The distribution depicted here differs from that given in The Jepson Manual (1993)

Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Amsinckia spectabilis var. microcarpa
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