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

CONVOLVULACEAE

MORNING-GLORY FAMILY

Lauramay T. Dempster (except Calystegia)

Perennial (annual), generally twining or trailing
Leaves alternate
Inflorescence: cyme or flowers solitary in axils; pedicels often with 2 bracts
Flower bisexual, radial; sepals 5, ± free, overlapping, persistent, often unequal; corolla generally showy, generally bell-shaped, ± shallowly 5-lobed, generally pleated and twisted in bud; stamens 5, epipetalous; pistil 1, ovary superior, chambers generally 2, ovules generally 2 per chamber, styles 1–2
Fruit: generally capsule
Seeds 1–4(6)
Genera in family: 50 genera, 1,000 species: warm temp to tropical; some cultivated as ornamental
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated to include Cuscutaceae [Angiosperm Phylogeny Group 1998 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 85:531–553].
(Family description, key to genera by L.T. Dempster)

DICHONDRA

Perennial, matted from creeping stolons; hairs equally forked
Leaf: petiole long; blade ± reniform
Inflorescence: flowers solitary in axils; bracts 0; upper peduncle recurved in fruit
Flower inconspicuous; calyx lobes 5, deep, ± equal, ovate to obovate; corolla barely > calyx, lobes > tube; ovary 2-lobed, each lobe with 2 ovules, styles 2, separate or fused at base, stigmas head-shaped
Fruit spheric to ± 2-lobed
Species in genus: 9 species: temp & tropical
Etymology: (Greek: double grain, from deeply lobed fruit of some)
Reference: [Tharp & Johnston 1961 Brittonia 13: 346–360]
Cult as ground cover.

Native

D. occidentalis House

WESTERN DICHONDRA

Stem densely brownish silky
Leaf nearly hairless, longest generally > 60 mm
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Slopes, headlands, generally under shrubs
Elevation: 50–500 m.
Bioregional distribution: South Coast, s Channel Islands
Distribution outside California: Baja California
Horticultural information: DRN, SHD: 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24.