TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
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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 12 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 14, 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 16:96112]
Family description, key to genera by Timothy C. Messick.
Perennial (rarely biennial); hairs appressed to spreading; caudex generally branched in age, often ± woody, taprooted
Stem ascending or erect
Leaves: lowest generally with petioles ± = blades, ± winged; other leaves generally sessile, becoming bract-like toward inflorescence
Inflorescence: cymes, generally ± terminal, generally > 3, generally arrayed in panicles, coiled at tips
Flower radial; corolla rotate-salverform, with appendage near base of each lobe
Fruit: nutlets erect, > style, generally with lateral-medial scar, generally with barb-tipped prickles on margin and exposed face
Species in genus: 40 species: generally w North America, se Asia
Etymology: (J. Hackel, Czech botanist, born 1783)
Reference: [Gentry & Carr 1976 Mem New York Bot Gard 26:121227]
Difficult genus needing much work, especially in n CA, se Asia; sometimes merged with Lappula
Horticultural information: TRY; DFCLT.