| 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 |
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).
Perennial from thick caudex
Stem little-branched, erect, > 7 mm diam; internodes with sticky brown ring
Leaves few, ± on lower stem half, petioled; blade oblong to round, thick
Inflorescence openly branched; flowers in heads, racemes, or umbel-like clusters; bracts 1–3, small, not forming an involucre
Flower: perianth funnel-shaped; stamens 3 or 5, generally long-exserted; stigma ± spheric, exserted
Fruit finely 10-ribbed, glabrous
Species in genus: 5 species: especially Chihuahuan Desert, ne Mex
Etymology: (Latin: ring stem, from sticky internodal rings)