TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
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Annual to tree
Leaves generally cauline, generally simple, generally alternate, petioled or not; stipules 0
Inflorescence: panicle, raceme, spike, or flowers solitary in axils, generally open; bracts leaf-like or not
Flower: bisexual, radial or bilateral, sometimes inverted (pedicel twisted 180°; hypanthium generally present, ± fused to ovary; sepals generally 5; corolla radial to 2-lipped, generally fused (tube sometimes split down back), lobes generally 5; stamens 5, free or ± fused (anthers and filaments fused into tube or filaments fused above middle); ovary inferior, sometimes half inferior, chambers 13, placentas axile or parietal, ovules many, style generally 1, 25-branched
Fruit: generally capsule, dehiscing on sides or at tip by pores or short valves
Seeds many
Genera in family: ± 70 genera, ± 2000 species: worldwide. Some cultivated for ornamental (Campanula, Jasione, Lobelia ). Subfamilies sometimes treated as different families.
Annual, glabrous to hairy; roots fibrous
Stem erect, simple or branched, 240 cm, 4-angled
Leaves cauline, widely linear to ovate, serrate, sessile
Inflorescence: flowers generally solitary, terminal
Flower pedicelled or not; sepals 0.53 X ovary, linear to narrowly triangular; corolla cylindric, funnel-, or bell-shaped, throat white, lobes linear to widely ovate, white to deep purple; ovary inferior, obconic to cylindric and narrowed near middle
Fruit dehiscing at top, through opening formed when style base falls off
Seeds ± 1 mm, angular-fusiform
Species in genus: 4 species: w North America
Etymology: (Greek: Githago -like)
Reference: [Morin 1983 Syst Bot 8:436468]