Jepson Flora Project: Jepson Interchange |
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TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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Jepson Interchange (more information) |
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
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AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
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; 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: 1134]
Native |
Stems spreading to decumbent, 49 cm; base shiny, purple
Leaf 510 mm, elliptic to oblanceolate, narrowed to wide petiole, entire to scalloped, hairy
Inflorescence: axis strongly zigzag; bracts 23 mm, widely elliptic; pedicels 512 mm, 0.2 mm diam, spreading, straight, becoming curved in age
Flower: hypanthium 1 mm; sepals ± 1.5 mm, triangular, erect; corolla 11.5 mm, deeply divided, white or purplish, veins and margins red, lobes ovate, erect, glabrous; filament tube 1.21.6 mm, tip slightly curved, glabrous, anthers 0.20.3 mm
Fruit 34 mm, hemispheric (base oblique, tip pointed)
Seed 0.60.7 mm, elliptic; surface with wide ridges alternating with pitted rows
Ecology: Bare soil or sand
Elevation: 2002500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Great Basin Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: e Oregon, Idaho, Nevada
Flowering time: MayJun