| 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 |
Shrub, vine, tree, generally erect, often thorny
Leaves simple, generally alternate, often clustered on short-shoots, generally petioled, generally stipuled; blade often 1–3-ribbed from base
Inflorescence: cyme, panicle, or flowers solitary in axils
Flower generally bisexual, radial; hypanthium subtending, surrounding, or partly fused to ovary; sepals 4 or 5; petals 0, 4, or 5, clawed; stamens 4 or 5, alternate sepals, attached to hypanthium top, each generally fitting into a petal concavity; ovary superior or partly inferior, chambers 2–5, each 1–2-ovuled, style lobes or parts 1–3
Fruit: capsule, drupe
Genera in family: 55 genera, 900 species: especially tropical, subtropical; some cultivated (Ceanothus ; Colletia , anchor-plant; Gouania ; Phylica ; Rhamnus ; Ventilago ; Ziziphus )
Reference: [Brizicky 1965 J Arnold Arbor 45:439–463]
Tree, shrub
Stem: branches opposite and alternate, rigid; twigs spreading, thorn-tipped or not, generally hairy
Leaves in part clustered on short-shoots, evergreen or deciduous; stipules deciduous; blade 3–5-ribbed from base, entire but generally with round, marginal glands
Inflorescence umbel-like, few-flowered; axis sometimes thorn-tipped
Flower: hypanthium filled with nectar in flower, lower part adhering to developing fruit, upper deciduous; sepals 5; petals 5, oblanceolate, = sepals; stamens 5; ovary chambers 3, each 1-ovuled, styles 3
Fruit: capsule, shallowly 3-valved
Species in genus: 31 species: warm places, worldwide
Etymology: (Latin: from French for serpent tree)
Reference: [Johnston 1971 Brittonia 23:2–53]