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

AIZOACEAE

FIG-MARIGOLD FAMILY

John Bleck, Wayne R. Ferren Jr., Nancy J. Vivrette

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.

SESUVIUM

SEA-PURSLANE

Wayne R. Ferren Jr.

Annual, perennial herb, shrub, glabrous, generally papillate
Stem prostrate to erect, forming mats < 2 m diam; nodes sometimes rooting
Leaves generally < 6 cm; stipule 0; petiole base generally wide with scarious margins; blade linear to ovate, entire
Inflorescence: cyme, cluster or flower solitary; bracts 0 or 2
Flower: hypanthium obconic; calyx lobes 5, generally hooded near tip, reddish within; petals 0; stamens 1–many, often fused at base; ovary half-superior, chambers 2–5, placentas axile, styles 2–5, papillate
Fruit: capsule, circumscissile, ovoid to conic, thin-walled
Seeds many, ± reniform, generally smooth, shiny, black or brown; aril present
Species in genus: 8 species: generally tropical, subtropical coasts, deserts.

Native

S. verrucosum Raf.

WESTERN SEA-PURSLANE

Perennial, branched from base, minutely papillate
Stems many, < 9 dm; nodes not rooting
Leaf 0.5–4 cm, linear to widely spoon-shaped; base clasping stem
Inflorescence: flower solitary, axillary, sessile or peduncle short
Flower: calyx lobes 4–10 mm, margins scarious, hooded or beaked, outer surface papillate; stamens many, filaments fused to midlength, reddish
Fruit 4–5 mm
Seed 0.8–1 mm, smooth
Ecology: Uncommon. Moist or seasonally dry flats, margins of generally saline wetlands
Elevation: < 1400 m.
Bioregional distribution: Great Central Valley, Outer South Coast Ranges, South Coast, Western Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, East of Sierra Nevada, Desert
Distribution outside California: to Oregon, Kansas, S.America
Flowering time: Apr–Nov