TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California Print edition is available from the University of California Press

	The second edition of The Jepson Manual (2012) is available from the University of California Press
	See also the Jepson eFlora, which parallels the Second Edition

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.

PLAGIOBOTHRYS

POPCORNFLOWER

Timothy C. Messick

Annual, perennial herb, generally strigose
Stem prostrate to erect, branched at base or above, < 5 dm
Leaves simple, 0.5–10 cm, generally smaller upward; all cauline (lower opposite, linear to oblong, upper generally alternate) or both basal (often in rosettes) and cauline (alternate, linear to oblanceolate)
Inflorescence: raceme or spike, coiled in bud, generally elongate in fruit; bracts 0–many; pedicels generally 0–1 mm
Flower bisexual; sepals fused below middle, 2–10 mm in fruit; corolla 1–12 mm wide, all white or yellow inside tube
Fruit: nutlets generally 4, 1–3.5 mm; back generally with midrib, lateral ribs, cross-ribs, interspaces, generally tubercled, sometimes prickled or bristled; scar generally lateral (on side) near middle or base, sometimes basal (on bottom) or oblique (between side and bottom), sometimes on a stalk or short peg, generally ovate to triangular
Species in genus: ± 65 species: temp w North America, w South America
Etymology: (Greek: sideways pit, from position of nutlet attachment scar)
Reference: [Higgins 1974 Great Basin Natur 34(2):161–166; Johnson 1932 Contr Arnold Abroretum 3:1–102]
Fully mature nutlets critical for identification; intergradation common in some species groups; sect. Allocarya often treated as a separate genus; many species need further study.

Native

P. reticulatus (Piper) I.M. Johnst.

Annual, ± strigose
Stem decumbent to erect, 1–4 dm
Leaves cauline; lower 3–8 cm
Inflorescence bracted below middle
Flower: calyx 2–4 mm; corolla 1.5–3.5 mm wide
Fruit: nutlet 0.7–1.7 mm, narrowly ovoid; midrib, lateral ribs, cross-ribs irregular; scar oblique, in a trough, narrow-elliptic to triangular
Ecology: Common. Moist places in forests, grasslands
Elevation: generally < 300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, San Francisco Bay Area
Distribution outside California: Oregon
See note under P. cognatus ; vars. intergrade.

Native

var. rossianorum I.M. Johnst.

Fruit: cross-ribs generally ± linear at middle of back; interspace tubercles generally dense or large; trough around scar generally narrow, obscure
Ecology: Habitat, elevation of sp.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, San Francisco Bay Area
Synonyms: P. scouleri (Hook. & Arn.) I.M. Johnst. var. penicillatus (Greene) Cronquist, in part
Plants from Presidio of San Francisco with nutlet back densely tubercled and nutlet walls thick have been called P. diffusus (Greene) I.M. Johnst., San Francisco popcornflower, ENDANGERED CA, but appear to intergrade with other minor variants not recognized taxonomically.