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 |
Annual to tree
Leaves compound (palmate, pinnate, or leaflet 1), alternate, often ± basal in rosettes or in clusters at stem or rhizome tips, generally petioled; stipules generally 0; leaflets generally sessile
Inflorescence: cyme, sometimes umbel- or raceme-like, or flowers solitary, generally in axils; peduncle bracted
Flower generally bisexual, radial; sepals 5, free or fused at base; petals 5, free or fused above base; stamens 10 or 15, fused below, of 2 lengths; pistil 1, ovary superior, chambers 35, placentas axile, styles 15, generally ± free
Fruit: generally capsule, loculicidal
Seeds generally with aril
Genera in family: 8 genera, 575 species: especially temp. Often heterostylous.
Annual, perennial herb, shrub; roots fibrous or woody; bulbs, tubers, or rhizomes often present
Stem sometimes 0 or very short
Leaf petioled: stipules 0 or small; leaflets 3, generally ± obcordate in CA, generally entire, generally green
Flower: petals clawed; stamens 10; ovary chambers 5, styles 5, free, erect or curved
Fruit cylindric to spheric, explosively dehiscent
Seeds flat, often ridged; aril translucent
Species in genus: ± 480 species: especially temp
Etymology: (Greek: sour)
Reference: [Eiten 1963 Amer Midl Nat 69:257309; Lourteig 1975 Phytologia 42:57197]
Generally heterostylous; many (especially aliens in CA except O. laxa ) fine ornamental; some noxious weeds; contained oxalates may be toxic to livestock.
Introduced |
Perennial; rhizome woody, not creeping; bulbs 0
Stem 0 or very short
Leaves basal; petiole < 30 cm; leaflets < 2 cm
Inflorescence umbel-like, < 10-flowered, in umbel-like assemblages or not; peduncle > petiole
Flower: sepals < 5 mm, broad-lanceolate, tips with 2 orange tubercles; petals purplish rose to white
Fruit < 8 mm, ovoid
Ecology: Waste, disturbed places, especially near gardens
Elevation: < 50 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, San Francisco Bay Area
Distribution outside California: native to Brazil
Cult as ornamental.