| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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Jepson Interchange (more information) |
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©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, biennial, perennial herb, rarely dioecious, taprooted or rhizome generally slender
Leaves simple, generally opposite; stipules generally 0; petiole generally 0; blade entire, sheath generally 0
Inflorescence: cyme, generally open; flowers few–many or flower solitary and axillary; involucre generally 0
Flower generally bisexual, radial; hypanthium sometimes present; sepals generally 5, ± free or fused into a tube, tube generally herbaceous between lobes or teeth; awns generally 0; petals generally 5 or 0, generally tapered to base (or with claw long, blade expanded), entire to 2–several-lobed, blade generally without scale-like appendages (inner surface), generally without ear-like lobes at base; stamens generally 10, generally fertile, generally free, generally from ovary base; nectaries generally 0; ovary superior, generally 1-chambered, placentas basal or free-central, styles 2–5 or 1 and 2–3-branched
Fruit: capsule or utricle (rarely modified, dehiscent), generally sessile
Seeds: appendage generally 0
Genera in family: 85 genera, 2400 species: widespread, especially arctic, alpine, temp, n hemisphere; some cultivated (Agrostemma, Arenaria, Cerastium, Dianthus, Gypsophila, Lychnis, Saponaria, Silene, Vaccaria ).
Annual, ± prostrate, taprooted
Leaves opposite below, alternate above; stipules 0.4–1 mm, ovate to deltate, scarious, ciliate, white; blade oblanceolate to obovate; vein 0–1
Inflorescence: cyme, axillary; flowers 3–10, dense, ± sessile
Flower: hypanthium cup-like, not abruptly expanded above; sepals 5, 0.6–1.2 mm, free, lanceolate to oblong, hairy, margin entire, herbaceous; petals 0; fertile stamens 2–5, sterile stamens 4–5, ± 0.5 mm, ± thread-like, arising from hypanthium rim; styles 2 or 2-branched in upper 2/3, 0.1–0.4 mm
Fruit: utricle, obovoid
Seed 1, dark reddish brown
Species in genus: 20 species: Eur, s Asia, Africa
Etymology: (Latin: rupture, 1 sp. being a supposed cure)
Reference: [Chaudhri 1968 Meded Bot Mus Herb Rijks Univ Utrecht 285:297–398]
| Introduced |
Stem generally 4–20 cm
Leaf: stipules 0.4–1 mm; blade 1–13 mm
Inflorescence: flowers 3–8
Flower: sepals ± equal to unequal; stamens 2–5; styles 2 or 2-branched
Fruit minutely papillate
Seed ± compressed, smooth; margin with prominent rim
Ecology: Disturbed, sandy or clay soils
Elevation: < 1750 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, c&s Sierra Nevada Foothills, c High Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast
Distribution outside California: native to s Europe, n Africa, sw Asia
| Introduced |
Stem generally 4–15 cm
Inflorescence: flowers 3–6
Flower 0.9–1.1 mm; hairs of ± 1 size, 1/5–1/3 X sepals, ± shorter on hypanthium, tips ± straight; sepals ± equal; stamens generally 5; style 2-branched, < 0.1 mm
Seed 0.6–0.7 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=18,36
Ecology: Sandy flats, roadsides, woodlands
Elevation: 200–1750 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, c Sierra Nevada Foothills
Distribution outside California: native to s Europe, n Africa, sw Asia