TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) previous taxon | next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora.

    THIS PAGE IS NO LONGER UPDATED
    AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY
  • Up-to-date information about California vascular plants is available from the Jepson eFlora.

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.

LAPPULA

STICKSEED

Ronald B. Kelley

Annual, hairy, taprooted
Stem ± erect; branches 0–many
Leaves basal and cauline, sessile, entire
Inflorescence: raceme, long, ± terminal; bracts leaf-like
Flower: calyx ± deeply 5-lobed, enlarging in fruit; corolla 5-lobed, funnel-shaped, appendages present; style entire
Fruit: nutlets generally 4, ovate, covered with ± long, barbed prickles
Species in genus: 12–14 species: n hemisphere
Etymology: (Latin: little bur)

Native

L. redowskii (Hornem.) Greene


Stem 0.5–3.5 dm
Leaf 1–4 cm, linear to lanceolate
Inflorescence: pedicel 1–2 mm
Flower: calyx 3–3.5 mm in fruit, lobes lanceolate, ± erect in fruit; corolla 1.5–2.5 mm wide, blue to white
Fruit: nutlets 2–3 mm
Ecology: Dry, open, rocky, often disturbed sites
Elevation: 600–3300 m.
Bioregional distribution: High Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, Great Basin Floristic Province, Mojave Desert
Distribution outside California: w N.America, Eurasia
Var. c. may occupy warmer, drier habitats than var. r.

previous taxon | next taxon
bioregional map for LAPPULA%20redowskii being generated
 


Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Lappula redowskii
Retrieve dichotomous key for Lappula
Return to treatment index page
Glossary
University & Jepson Herbaria Home Page | Copyright © by the Regents of the University of California