| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
previous taxon |
next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information) |
|
|
©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 perennial herb, rarely shrub, sometimes armed with prickles
Stem generally branched
Leaves simple, generally in basal rosettes and cauline, generally opposite, ± fused at base around stem, entire, toothed, or pinnately lobed or dissected, petioled or sessile; stipules 0
Inflorescence: head, terminal, on long peduncle, many-flowered, dense, ± spheric or cylindric, subtended by involucre; each flower generally enclosed ± at base by an involucel of 1–2 generally fused bractlets, this generally expanded above or in fruit, generally subtended by a receptacle bract
Flower bisexual, ± bilateral, especially outermost; calyx limb cup-shaped or divided into 4–5(10) linear or bristle-like segments; corolla ± funnel-shaped, lobes 4–5, < tube, generally unequal; stamens generally 4, attached to corolla tube, alternate lobes; ovary inferior, 1-chambered, style slightly exserted from corolla, stigma 2-lobed
Fruit: achene, enclosed by sometimes enlarged involucel, generally topped by persistent calyx
Genera in family: 10–11 genera, 270–350 species: Eur to e Asia, c&s Africa; several cultivated for ornamental
Reference: [Moore 1976 Flora Europaea 4:56–72]
Annual to perennial herb, unarmed
Stem erect, < 6 dm, branched, glabrous or hairy
Leaf generally < 1 dm, pinnately lobed or dissected
Inflorescence ± spheric; outermost flowers generally larger; peduncle often long; involucre bracts ± equal, generally < flowers, lanceolate, flexible; involucel tubular, sometimes with expanded, fan-like, many-veined limb
Flower: calyx limb divided into 5 bristles; corolla generally blue, purple, pink, or white, lobes 5, upper 2 smaller; stamens 4, rarely 2
Fruit ± angled, generally hairy
Species in genus: ± 80 species: temp Eurasia, Africa
Etymology: (Latin: itch, from medicinal use)
| Introduced |
Stem < 4 dm
Leaves on stem dentate to pinnately dissected
Inflorescence 20–50 mm wide, not elongating at maturity; limb of involucel 3–4 mm, funnel-shaped
Fruit: calyx bristles scarcely > expanded, fan-like, scarious, many-veined limb of involucel
Ecology: Disturbed urban areas
Elevation: < 250 m.
Bioregional distribution: South Coast
Distribution outside California: native to sw Europe
Cult as ornamental, rarely naturalized.