TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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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 to tree, sometimes monoecious or dioecious, glandular or with bead-like hairs that collapse with age, becoming scaly or powdery
Stem often fleshy
Leaves generally alternate, entire to lobed; veins generally pinnate
Inflorescence: raceme, spike, catkin-like, or spheric cluster, or flower 1; bracts 0few
Flower: sepals 15, often 0 in pistillate flowers, free or fused, generally persistent in fruit; petals 0; stamens 05; ovary generally superior, chamber 1, ovule 1, styles 13
Fruit: generally utricle
Seed 1, vertical (fruit compressed side-to-side) or horizontal (fruit compressed top-to-bottom)
Genera in family: 100 genera, 1300 species: worldwide, especially deserts, saline or alkaline soils; some cultivated for food (Beta , beets, chard; Chenopodium , quinoa)
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated in expanded Amaranthaceae
Annual, generally glabrous
Leaves alternate, generally reduced upward
Inflorescence: clusters generally axillary, 115+-flowered; bracts leaf-like
Flower bisexual or pistillate; sepals 13; stamens 01; style branches 2
Fruit: wall pitted to tubercled, sometimes adherent to seed
Seed generally vertical
Species in genus: 3 species: w North America
Etymology: (Greek: 1 scale, from sepal number in most species)
Native |
Plant 440 cm
Stems 2many from base, ascending to erect, fleshy
Leaf 1045 mm, lanceolate, fleshy, 2-toothed to hastate
Inflorescence: flowers generally 515+ per cluster
Flower: sepal oblanceolate to obovate
Fruit 1.52 mm; wall minutely pitted, adherent to seed
Seed dark brown
Ecology: Open, disturbed, often wet places
Elevation: < 3500 m.
Bioregional distribution: California (except Northwestern California)
Distribution outside California: to c N.America, n Mexico
Flowering time: AprSep
Often confused with Chenopodium.