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 trees, some dioecious
Stem: nodes often swollen
Leaves simple, basal or cauline, alternate, opposite, or whorled, generally entire; stipules 0 or obvious and fused into a generally scarious sheath around stem
Inflorescence: small cluster, axillary or arrayed in cymes or panicles; involucres sometimes subtending 1many flowers
Flower generally bisexual, small, ± radial; perianth generally 56-lobed, base ± tapered, often jointed to pedicel; stamens 29, often in 2 whorls; ovary superior, styles generally 3, generally fused at base
Fruit: achene, generally enclosed by persistent perianth, generally 3-angled, ovoid, and glabrous
Genera in family: 50 genera, 1100 species: worldwide, especially n temp; some cultivated for food (Fagopyrum ; Rheum , rhubarb; Rumex , sorrel) or ornamental (Antigonon , coral-vine; Muehlenbeckia ; Polygonum )
Reference: [Ronse Decraene & Akeroyd 1988 Bot J Linn Soc 98:321371; Reveal et al. 1989 Phytologia 66(24):83414]
Treatments of the 15 eriogonoid genera are based on the monographic work of James L. Reveal, who is gratefully acknowledged.
Annual to shrub
Leaves generally ± basal (clustered on low stems or cauline), petioled, generally ± tomentose below (often shedding above); stipule 0
Inflorescence openly cyme-like, umbel-like, or head-like, generally ± scapose; bracts (any whorled, leaf-like structures on inflorescence) 3many per node, leaf-like to scale-like; involucres generally 1 per node, generally ± obconic, lobes (or short teeth) generally 310, generally erect; flowers generally many per involucre, pedicelled
Flower: perianth white, yellow, or red, lobes 6, generally ± oblong to obovate; stamens 9
Fruit brown to black, glabrous to hairy
Species in genus: ± 250 species: North America
Etymology: (Greek: woolly knees, from hairy nodes of some)
Reference: [Reveal 1989 Phytologia 66:295414]
Largest dicot genus in CA; apparently currently differentiating; many taxa ± indistinct. Better habitat data needed. Many are excellent bee fodder
Horticultural information: Most are attractive and easy to grow with good drainage.
Native |
[Group 4] Shrub 10200 cm, 10250 cm diam, generally rounded
Leaves cauline; blade 540 mm, ± linear to spoon-shaped, generally ± tomentose
Inflorescence cyme-like, generally dense; bracts scale-like; axes many, rigid, ± widely spreading; involucres sessile, 12 mm, glabrous, teeth 5
Flower: perianth 1.54 mm, white or yellowish to rose, glabrous, outer lobes ± obovate-cordate, inner ± oblanceolate, stalk-like base 0
Fruit 22.5 mm, glabrous
Ecology: Dry rocks, washes
Elevation: 6002800 m.
Bioregional distribution: c&s High Sierra Nevada (e slope), Tehachapi Mountain Area, South Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, East of Sierra Nevada, especially Desert Mountains
Distribution outside California: to Utah, n Arizona
Highly variable complex.