| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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Jepson Interchange (more information) |
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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 shrub
Leaves generally simple, generally alternate, generally petioled; stipules 0; blade entire to deeply lobed
Inflorescence various
Flower bisexual; calyx lobes generally 5; corolla ± radial, cylindric to rotate, lobes generally 5; stamens 5, alternate corolla lobes; ovary superior, generally 2-chambered, style 1
Fruit: berry or capsule, 2–5-chambered
Genera in family: 75 genera, 3000 species: worldwide, especially ± tropical; many alien weeds in CA; many cultivated for food, drugs, or ornamental (potato, tomato, peppers, tobacco, petunia);many TOXIC .
Perennial; hairs ± scale-like
Stem decumbent, branched
Leaf entire to ± deeply pinnately lobed
Inflorescence: cluster, axillary, 1–5-flowered
Flower: calyx in fruit ± enlarged, open at top; corolla rotate, tomentose near base between stamens; anthers free, generally < filaments, opening by slits; style 1
Fruit: berry, spheric, partly enclosed by calyx
Seeds ± flat, reniform
Species in genus: ± 9 species: especially sw US, Mex
Etymology: (Greek: low Saracha , a South America genus in family)
Reference: [Averett 1973 Rhodora 75:325–365]
| Native |
Stems many from base, 10–50 cm
Leaf 20–65 mm, 1–10 mm wide
Inflorescence: pedicels ± 1 cm, in fruit < 2 cm, reflexed
Flower: calyx 3–5 mm, in fruit 5–10 mm, lobes in fruit 2 mm; corolla dirty or greenish white; filaments 3 mm
Fruit 5–8 mm wide
Seeds 3 mm
Chromosomes: n=12,24,36
Ecology: Dry, clay soil
Elevation: ± 1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: e Desert Mountains (New York Mtns)
Distribution outside California: to Utah, Texas, n Mexico
Flowering time: May–Jul