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. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
Annual, in water or on wet ground, monoecious
Stem slender, generally ascending under water, floating on surface, or prostrate on ground, generally much-branched
Leaves simple, generally opposite, 4-ranked, linear-lanceolate to spoon-shaped, entire; stipules 0
Inflorescence: flowers 13 per leaf axil, the group subtended by generally 2 whitish, inflated bracts
Flowers minute, unisexual; perianth 0
Staminate flower: stamen generally 1, filament elongate
Pistillate flower: ovary superior, ± obcordate, chambers 4, styles 2, thread-like
Fruit 0.61.6 mm (width generally ± = length), ± dry, ± grooved longitudinally, splitting into 4 achene-like units
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated in expanded Plantaginaceae (= Veronicaceae sensu Olmstead et al.) that includes genera removed from Scrophulariaceae [Angiosperm Phylogeny Group 1998 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 85:531553; Olmstead et al. 2001 Amer J Bot 88:348361]
Horticultural information: DRN, DRY, SUN; DFCLT.
The only genus,
Species in genus: ± 40 species: tropical, temp
Etymology: (Greek: beautiful hair, from slender stems)
Reference: [Fassett 1951 Rhodora 53:137155,161182, 185194,209222; Philbrick & Jansen 1991 Syst Bot 16:478491]
Taxonomically difficult; mature fruit and 10X magnification needed for identification.