| 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 |
Perennial, shrub, tree, glabrous or hairy
Stem often forked
Leaves opposite, sessile or petioled, pairs generally unequal; blade generally entire
Inflorescence generally forked; of spikes, clusters, or umbels, each unit sometimes with a calyx-like involucre
Flower bisexual, radial; perianth of 1 whorl, petal-like, bell- to trumpet-shaped, base hardened, tightly surrounding ovary in fruit, lobes 4–5, generally notched to ± bilateral; stamens 1–many; ovary superior (appearing inferior because of hardened perianth base), style 1
Fruit: achene or nut, smooth, wrinkled, or ribbed
Genera in family: 30 genera, 300 species: warm regions, especially Am; some ornamental (Bougainvillea ; Mirabilis , four o'clock).
Annual, short-lived perennial herb, glabrous to densely glandular-hairy
Stem trailing, < 1 m
Leaf petioled; blade < 4 cm, oval to oblong, paler below
Inflorescence: involucres clustered, each involucre resembling 1 flower; bracts 3, ± 1/2 fused, hairy; flowers 1 per bract, blooming together
Flower: stamens generally 4(–7), exserted; stigma ± spheric, exserted
Fruit bilateral
Species in genus: 2 species: Am
Etymology: (C. Allioni, Italian botanist, 1725–1804)