HYDROPHYLLACEAE

WATERLEAF FAMILY

Richard R. Halse, except as specified; Robert W. Patterson, Family Editor

Annual, perennial herb, shrub, generally hairy, generally taprooted
Stem prostrate to erect
Leaves simple to pinnately compound, basal or cauline, alternate or opposite; stipules 0
Inflorescence: cyme (generally raceme-like and coiled) or flowers solitary
Flower bisexual, generally radial; calyx lobes generally 5, generally fused at base, generally persistent, enlarging in fruit; corolla generally deciduous, rotate to cylindric, lobes generally 5, appendages in pairs on tube between filaments or 0; stamens generally 5, epipetalous, filament base sometimes appendaged, appendages scale-like; ovary generally superior, chamber 1, placentas 2, parietal, enlarged into chamber, sometimes meeting so ovary appears 2–5-chambered, styles 1–2, stigmas generally head-like
Fruit: capsule, generally loculicidal; valves generally 2
Genera in family: 20 genera, 300 species: especially w US; some cultivated (Emmenanthe, Nemophila, Phacelia )
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated to be included in an expanded Boraginaceae (also including Lennoaceae) [Angiosperm Phylogeny Group 1998 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 85:531–553; Olmstead et al. 2000 Mol Phylog Evol 16:96–112]

ERIODICTYON

YERBA SANTA

Shrub
Stem erect; bark shredding
Leaves simple, cauline, alternate, leathery; upper surface glabrous, shiny, sticky, or tomentose; lower surface tomentose
Inflorescence generally open, terminal
Flower: corolla funnel- to bell-shaped, white, lavender, or purple, hairy outside; stamens included, filaments generally hairy; ovary chambers 2, styles 2, generally hairy
Fruit 1–3 mm wide; valves 4
Seeds striate, dark brown or black
Species in genus: 9 species: sw US, Mex
Etymology: (Greek: woolly net, from undersurface of some leaves)
Reference: [Hannan 1988 Amer J Bot 75:579–588]

Native

E. trichocalyx A. Heller

Stem < 2 m; twigs glabrous to hairy
Leaf 3–14 cm, 0.5–4 cm wide, linear-lanceolate to narrowly oblong, short-petioled, entire to toothed, glabrous, sticky to sparsely hairy above, sparsely to densely tomentose below; margin rolled under
Flower: calyx lobes 1–5 mm, glabrous to hairy, ciliate; corolla 4–13 mm, white to lavender, generally densely hairy; styles 1–6 mm
Seeds 4–8
Chromosomes: n=14
Ecology: Slopes, mesas, ravines, grasslands, chaparral
Elevation: 100–2800 m.
Bioregional distribution: South Coast, San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, w edge Desert
Distribution outside California: Baja California

Native

var. lanatum (Brand) Jeps.

Stem: twigs sparsely to densely hairy
Leaf generally densely white-tomentose below, lacking net-like pattern
Ecology: Habitats of sp.
Elevation: 300–1300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Peninsular Ranges, w edge Sonoran Desert
Distribution outside California: Baja California
Flowering time: Apr–Jun
Synonyms: E. l. (Brand) Abrams
Horticultural information: TRY.