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

CAMPANULACEAE

BELLFLOWER FAMILY

Nancy Morin, except as specified

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 1–3, placentas axile or parietal, ovules many, style generally 1, 2–5-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.

NEMACLADUS

Nancy R. Morin and Jennifer Milburn

Annual; roots fibrous
Stems erect or spreading, simple or branched at base or below middle
Leaves basal; petiole short or 0
Inflorescence ± raceme-like; bract 1 per flower, small; pedicel generally thread-like
Flower inverted; sepals linear to triangular; corolla nearly radial and 5-lobed or 2-lipped (upper lip 3-lobed, lower lip 2-lobed); filaments free at base, fused into tube above, sometimes appendaged at tube base, anthers free, all alike; ovary generally half-inferior in fruit, sometimes 0, hemispheric to obconic, sometimes glandular, stigma 2-lobed, papillate
Fruit generally > hypanthium, hemispheric to fusiform; tip pointed or rounded, dehiscing at tip by 2 valves; chambers 2
Seed elliptic to oblong
Species in genus: 13 species: sw US, nw Mex
Etymology: (Greek: thread-like branch)
Reference: [McVaugh 1942 N Amer Flora 32A: 1–134]

Native

N. gracilis Eastw.

SLENDER NEMACLADUS

Stems spreading to ascending, 2.5–10 cm; base dull reddish brown
Leaf 2.5–8 mm, oblanceolate to oblong, narrowed to wide petiole, irregularly dentate to ± pinnately lobed, hairy
Inflorescence: axis straight or weakly zigzag; bracts 2–4 mm, linear-oblong, tip recurved; pedicels 5–12 mm, 0.1 mm diam, reflexed, slightly S-curved, tip erect
Flower: hypanthium 0.5 mm; sepals ± 0.5 mm, linear, spreading; corolla 1.5–2 mm, ± 1/2 divided, white with lavender veins, sparsely hairy, lobes erect; filament tube ± 1 mm, tip curved, fine-hairy; anthers 0.5 mm
Fruit ± 1.5 mm, hemispheric (base acute, tip rounded)
Seed ± 0.5 mm, widely elliptic; surface with vertical zigzag ridges alternating with clearly pitted rows
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Rocky slopes, sandy washes
Elevation: < 1900 m.
Bioregional distribution: Tehachapi Mountain Area, San Joaquin Valley (sw Merced Co.), s Outer South Coast Ranges, Western Transverse Ranges, w Mojave Desert (Los Angeles Co.)
Flowering time: Mar–Apr