| 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 1–many flowers
Flower generally bisexual, small, ± radial; perianth generally 5–6-lobed, base ± tapered, often jointed to pedicel; stamens 2–9, 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 98:321–371; Reveal et al. 1989 Phytologia 66(2–4):83–414]
Treatments of the 15 eriogonoid genera are based on the monographic work of James L. Reveal, who is gratefully acknowledged.
Annual, perennial herb, shrub, vine
Stem prostrate to erect, or climbing, or floating, < 3 m
Leaves generally cauline, alternate, sessile or petioled; stipules fused, sheathing stem above nodes, generally scarious or membranous; blade sometimes obviously jointed to stipule sheath
Inflorescence: unit a 1–8-flowered cluster, these arrayed singly or in head-like to open panicles
Flower: perianth lobes generally 5; stamens 3–8, filaments generally wider at base
Fruit generally ovoid, 3-angled, sometimes round, flat, indented; shiny to dull, brown to black
Species in genus: ± 300 species: worldwide, especially n temp
Etymology: (Greek: many knees, from swollen nodes of some species)
Reference: [Ronse Decraene & Ackeroyd 1988 Bot J Linn Soc 98:321–371]
Segregate genera (e.g., Bistorta, Fallopia, Persicaria ) are sometimes recognized.
| Introduced |
Annual
Stem ± erect, < 1 m, sometimes ± swollen above nodes
Leaf < 20 cm, petioled; stipule strigose, margin bristly; blade narrowly lanceolate, generally with dark central spot, generally gland-dotted below
Inflorescence spike-like, dense, < 3 cm, generally interrupted below; peduncles glabrous; bracts ± strigose-bristly
Flower: perianth 2 mm, deep pink (rarely white)
Fruit ± 2 mm, ± flat to equally 3-angled, brown to black, shiny
Chromosomes: 2n=22,40,44
Ecology: Common. Moist urban places
Elevation: < 1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: California
Distribution outside California: native to Europe
Flowering time: Jun–Nov
Synonyms: P. fusiforme Greene
Variable.Hybrids with P. lapathifolium have narrower inflorescence and ± flat, brown fruits. Often confused with P. hydropiperoides.