| 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, perennial herb, shrub, < 2 m, mostly monoecious; sap clear
Stems: central erect, generally much-branched; lateral spreading to ascending
Leaves simple, cauline, alternate, stipuled; hairs simple, sometimes glandular
Inflorescence: spike, terminal or axillary; staminate bracts minute; pistillate bracts leaf-like, toothed
Staminate flower: sepals 4; petals 0; stamens 4–8, filaments free or fused at base; nectary disk 0
Pistillate flower: sepals 3(–5); petals 0; nectary 0; ovary 3-chambered, styles 3, deeply cut
Fruit ± spheric, smooth or ± lobed
Seeds 1 per chamber, smooth to pitted; scar appendage minute
Species in genus: ± 400 species: tropical, warm temp worldwide
Etymology: (Greek: ancient name for a kind of nettle)
| Native |
Annual or biennial
Stem erect, 1.2–6 dm, glabrous
Leaf 1.5–3.5 cm, petioled to sessile; blade obovate to spoon-shaped, glabrous, tip obtuse to abruptly pointed, margin entire
Inflorescence: involucre 2 mm, bell-shaped, glabrous; gland 1–2 mm, crescent-shaped, 2-horned
Staminate flowers 11–18
Pistillate flower: style divided < 1/2 length
Fruit 3–3.5 mm, oblong, lobed, glabrous
Seed 2–2.5 mm, oblong-ovoid, round; surface net-like to almost smooth
Ecology: Common. Dry places
Elevation: < 1600 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: Oregon
Annual, perennial herb, monoecious or dioecious, generally glabrous; sap clear
Stems: central erect, branched; lateral < central, spreading to ascending
Leaves simple, cauline, opposite; stipules persistent; hairs simple
Staminate inflorescence spike-like, axillary; flowers clustered
Pistillate inflorescence: flowers clustered, axillary, below staminate flowers
Staminate flower: calyx 3-lobed; petals 0; stamens 8–15(20), free; nectary 0
Pistillate flower: sepals 3; petals 0; staminodes 2, elongated; ovary 2-chambered, bristly, styles free, simple
Fruit bristly
Seeds 1 per chamber, generally pitted; scar appendaged
Species in genus: 8 species: Eurasia, n Africa
Etymology: (Greek: Greek God Mercury)