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 tree, sometimes monoecious or dioecious, glandular or with bead-like hairs that collapse with age, becoming scaly or powdery
Stem often fleshy
Leaves generally alternate, entire to lobed; veins generally pinnate
Inflorescence: raceme, spike, catkin-like, or spheric cluster, or flower 1; bracts 0few
Flower: sepals 15, often 0 in pistillate flowers, free or fused, generally persistent in fruit; petals 0; stamens 05; ovary generally superior, chamber 1, ovule 1, styles 13
Fruit: generally utricle
Seed 1, vertical (fruit compressed side-to-side) or horizontal (fruit compressed top-to-bottom)
Genera in family: 100 genera, 1300 species: worldwide, especially deserts, saline or alkaline soils; some cultivated for food (Beta , beets, chard; Chenopodium , quinoa)
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated in expanded Amaranthaceae
Annual (generally monoecious) to shrub (generally dioecious), often scaly
Leaves generally alternate, generally entire; lower generally ± short-petioled; upper generally sessile, ± reduced
Staminate inflorescence: spike or spheric cluster; bracts 0
Pistillate inflorescence: clusters to spike- or panicle-like; bracts 2 per fruit, free to fused, generally compressed, generally sessile
Staminate flower: calyx lobes 35; stamens 35
Pistillate flower: calyx ± 0; ovary ovoid to spheric, style branches 2
Seed generally erect
Species in genus: ± 250 species: temp to subtropical worldwide
Etymology: (Latin: ancient name)
Generally in alkaline or saline soils; some weedy; some accumulate selenium.
Native |
Annual 13 dm
Stems 1few from base, decumbent to erect; branches ascending to erect, stiff, generally gray-scaly, becoming glabrous, straw-colored
Leaves: blade 820 mm, elliptic to ovate; upper gray-scaly, base tapered to ± obtuse
Pistillate inflorescence: bracts in fruit 4.56 mm, fused ± to middle, widely deltate to ± round, ± compressed to spheric, smooth to tubercled, margin greenish, toothed
Seed 11.5 mm, dark brown
Ecology: Alkaline soils
Elevation: < 500 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, e Inner South Coast Ranges, e South Coast.
Native |
Stems decumbent to ascending
Pistillate inflorescence: bracts in fruit 4.56 mm, 33.5 mm wide, ± compressed, tubercles few, generally < marginal teeth
Chromosomes: n=18
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Fine, alkaline soils
Elevation: < 200 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, eastern Inner South Coast Ranges.