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 tree
Stem prostrate to erect
Leaves alternate or opposite, simple, generally entire, bract-like upward; stipules 0
Inflorescence: cymes, often arrayed ± in spikes or panicles; bracts 13 per flower, generally membranous-scarious, tip often short-pointed or spine-like
Flower generally small, uni- or bisexual, radial; sepals 05, fused at base or free, often ± scarious; petals 0; stamens 05, opposite sepals (staminodes sometimes alternating), filaments sometimes fused at base; ovary superior, 1-chambered, ovules 1several, erect or pendent on ± basal stalks, styles 03, stigma head-like or 23-lobed
Fruit: utricle to circumscissile capsule
Seed lenticular to spheric, hard
Genera in family: ± 65 genera, ± 900 species: tropical, subtropical
Reference: [Robertson 1981 J Arnold Arbor 62:267313]
Annual, monoecious or dioecious
Leaves alternate; blade linear to ovate
Inflorescence: cymes in dense, spike-like clusters; bract 1, tip generally short-pointed or -spined, generally scarious; bractlets 02
Staminate flower: sepals 35, ± equal, ± as bracts; stamens (1)35, filaments free; staminodia 0
Pistillate flower: sepals (3)5, ± equal, scarious except midvein, fused at base, falling with fruit; ovary compressed-ovoid, styles (2)3, stigmas slender, papillate, ovule 1, erect
Fruit circumscissile or indehiscent, smooth or inflated-wrinkled; walls membranous to spongy-hardened
Seed 1, lenticular, smooth, reddish to black
Species in genus: ± 60 species: worldwide; some potherbs, some cultivated for seed
Etymology: (Greek: unfading, from persistent bracts and sepals)
Some species (especially A. cruentus, A. powellii, A. retroflexus) hybridize complexly
Reference: [Tucker & Sauer Madroño 1958 14:252261]
Introduced |
Plant erect, 410(20) dm, bushy, dioecious
Leaf: petiole 565 mm; blade 2075 mm, lanceolate to ± ovate, margins strongly and irregularly curled
Inflorescence: terminal spike 2060 cm, 1122 mm wide, >> axillary spikes; bracts generally < sepals, scarious, midrib thick, spine-tipped, staminate bracts 1.22 mm, pistillate bracts 1.52.5 mm
Staminate flower: sepals 5, 23.5 mm; stamens 5
Pistillate flower: sepals 5, 1.82.3 mm, spoon-shaped, tip slightly notched to short-pointed
Fruit ± 2 mm, circumscissile, smooth
Seed 0.91.2 mm wide, reddish brown
Ecology: Very uncommon as waif. Sandy soils
Elevation: < 200 m.
Bioregional distribution: Sacramento Valley, Central Coast, South Coast
Distribution outside California: native to c&eastern US