| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
previous taxon |
next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information) |
|
|
©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 basal or cauline, alternate to whorled, simple to compound
Inflorescence: 1° inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower, 1–many, generally arrayed in cymes, generally subtended by ± calyx-like involucre; flowers 1–many per head
Flowers bisexual, unisexual, or sterile, ± small, of several types; calyx 0 or modified into pappus of bristles, scales, or awns, which is generally persistent in fruit; corolla radial or bilateral (rarely 0), lobes generally (0)4–5; stamens 4–5, anthers generally fused into cylinder around style, often appendaged at tips, bases, or both, filaments generally free, generally attached to corolla near throat; pistil 1, ovary inferior, 1-chambered, 1-seeded, style 1, branches 2, generally hair-tufted at tip, stigmas 2, generally on inside of style branches
Fruit: achene, cylindric to ovoid, generally deciduous with pappus attached
Genera in family: ± 1300 genera, 21,000 species (largest family of dicots): worldwide. Largest family in CA. Also see tribal key to CA genera: Strother 1997 Madroño 44(1):1–28. See glossary p. 25 for illustrations of general family characteristics.
Annual, perennial herb, ± aromatic
Stems low, erect or creeping, generally branched
Leaves alternate, entire, lobed, or dissected
Inflorescence: heads disciform, solitary; phyllaries in 2 or more series, narrowly scarious-margined; receptacle flat or convex, naked or roughened by persistent flowering stalks
Pistillate flowers in 1–several series, borne on slender stalks; corolla 0; ovary flattened
Disk flowers many, very small, bisexual or functionally staminate, sessile or short-stalked; corolla tubular, 4-lobed, yellow; style and stamens included; anther tips ovate, bases rounded or ± cordate; style branches truncate with shrub-like tips
Fruit of pistillate flowers compressed front-to-back, winged; fruit of disk flowers unwinged or wing narrow; pappus 0
Species in genus: ± 80 species: mostly in s hemisphere
Etymology: (Greek: "small cup," for sheathing leaf bases of some species)