ROSACEAE

ROSE FAMILY

Annual to tree
Leaves simple to pinnately to palmately compound, generally alternate; stipules free to fused, persistent to deciduous
Inflorescence: cyme, raceme, panicle, or flowers solitary
Flower generally bisexual, radial; hypanthium free or fused to ovary, saucer- to funnel-shaped, often with bractlets alternate with sepals; sepals generally 5; petals generally 5, free; stamens (0)5–many, pistils (0)1–many, simple or compound; ovary superior to inferior, styles 1–5
Fruit: achene, follicle, drupe, pome, or blackberry- to raspberry-like
Seeds generally 1–5
Genera in family: 110 genera, ± 3000 species: worldwide, especially temp. Many cultivated for ornamental and fruit, especially Cotoneaster , Fragaria , Malus , Prunus , Pyracantha, Rosa , and Rubus
Reference: [Robertson 1974 J Arnold Arbor 55:303–332,344–401,611–662]
Family description, key to genera by Barbara Ertter and Dieter H. Wilken.

COLEOGYNE

BLACKBUSH

Thomas J. Rosatti

Species in genus: 1 sp
Etymology: (Greek: sheath female, from hypanthium enclosing pistil)

Native

C. ramosissima Torr.

Shrub 3–20 dm, much-branched, ± strigose, thorny
Leaves in opposite clusters, 5–15 mm, linear-oblanceolate, ± thick, entire; stipules persistent
Inflorescence: flowers solitary at stem tips; bract (closely subtending flower) ± linear, base 2-lobed
Flower generally yellow (sepals often reddish outside); hypanthium bell-shaped, leathery, sheath at top enclosing pistil, 4–5 mm; sepals 4, 7–8 mm, erect, elliptic, persistent, inner 2 widely scarious-margined; petals 0; stamens 30–40; pistil 1, ovary superior, style lateral, long-hairy especially below, persistent
Fruit: achene, ± 3–4 mm, ± crescent-shaped, brown, glabrous
Ecology: Dry, open slopes, creosote-bush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 600–1600 m.
Bioregional distribution: East of Sierra Nevada, Desert (especially Desert Mountains)
Distribution outside California: to Colorado, New Mexico
Flowering time: Apr–Jun