| 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. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
Annual, perennial herb, shrub, generally fleshy
Stem underground or prostrate to erect
Leaves generally simple, generally cauline, generally opposite; stipule generally 0; blade generally glabrous, often glaucous
Inflorescence: cyme or flower solitary
Flower generally bisexual, radial; hypanthium present; sepals 3–8; petals generally many in several whorls, free or fused at base, linear, sometimes 0; stamens 1–many, free or fused in groups, outer often petal-like; nectary a ring or separate glands; pistil 1, ovary superior to inferior, chambers 1–20, placentas generally parietal, styles 0–20, stigmas 1–20
Fruit: generally capsule, opening by flaps or circumscissile, or berry or nut
Seeds 1–many per chamber, often with aril
Genera in family: 130 genera, 2500 species: generally subtropical, especially s Africa; many cultivated, some waifs in CA (e.g., Disphyma crassifolium (L.) L. Bolus: ovary glands convex and minutely crenate, stigmas densely plumose, fruit chambers 5, seeds ovate, ± smooth; Lampranthus species: ovary glands fused, fruit chambers 5, seeds pear-shaped, ± black, rough; both genera members of Ruschieae)
Reference: [Ferren et al. 1981 Madroño 28:80–85]
Glinus, Mollugo are in Molluginaceae.
Perennial
Stem prostrate to erect
Leaves opposite, sessile, < 7 cm, triangular to round in X -section
Inflorescence: cyme or flower solitary; bracts present
Flower 1.5–8 cm diam; sepals 4–8, generally unequal; petals free; outer stamens sterile, petal-like, inner stamens erect, whitish; nectary glands separate; ovary half-inferior, chambers 5, placentas parietal, stigmas 5
Fruit: capsule, persistent; lids generally 0
Seed 0.5–1.5 mm, ± spheric, pale brown, generally with aril
Species in genus: 140 species: Africa
Etymology: (Greek: visible seed)
| Introduced |
Stem prostrate, thin, mat-forming, rooting at nodes; nodes widely spaced
Leaves crowded on short shoots, 2–3 cm, 5–6 mm wide, linear, triangular in X -section; angles white-margined, tip acute, generally reflexed
Inflorescence: cyme; flowers few; pedicels 2 cm
Flower 1.5–2.2 cm diam; sepals 5, ± unequal; petals white; inner stamens free, forming cone around stigmas
Chromosomes: 2n=36
Ecology: Uncommon. Margins of coastal wetlands, bluffs, stabilized dunes
Elevation: < 35 m.
Bioregional distribution: South Coast, s Channel Islands
Distribution outside California: native to s Africa
Synonyms: Mesembryanthemum l. Kensit