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 13-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 25, each 12-ovuled, style lobes or parts 13
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 45:439463]
Shrub, small tree, prostrate to erect, thorny or not
Stem: branches generally arranged as leaves
Leaves alternate or opposite, deciduous or evergreen, petioled; blade 13-ribbed from base, margin entire or not
Inflorescence: generally panicle-like aggregations of umbel-like, 3-flowered clusters
Flower generally < 5 mm; hypanthium surrounding fleshy disk below ovary base, in fruit thick, not splitting; sepals generally 5, lanceolate-deltate, incurved, colored like petals, persistent; petals generally 5, hooded, white to deep blue; stamens generally 5, opposite petals; ovary superior, 3-lobed, chambers 3, each 1-ovuled, style parts 3
Fruit: capsule, ± spheric, 3-valved
Seeds 3, ± 3 mm, 1 surface convex
Species in genus: 45 species: North America, especially w
Etymology: (Greek: thorny plant)
Reference: [Rensselaer & McMinn 1942 Ceanothus Santa Barbara Bot Gard 1308]
Hybridization common (named hybrids not recognized here); hybrid forms may not key adequately.
Native |
Plant erect, < 4 m, thorny
Stem: twigs round, gray-glaucous, puberulent, becoming glaucous
Leaves alternate, evergreen, < 4 cm; stipules deciduous; petiole 23 mm; blade ovate to elliptic-oblong, 3-ribbed from base, tip acute to obtuse, margin entire to minutely serrate, glandular or not, both surfaces gray-glaucous, glabrous to puberulent
Inflorescence generally raceme-like, < 11 cm; clusters stalked
Flower pale blue to white
Fruit < 6 mm, sticky, 3-lobed, depressed at top; valve crests 0
Chromosomes: 2n=24
Ecology: Dry, rocky or sandy slopes
Elevation: < 1800 m.
Bioregional distribution: Sierra Nevada Foothills, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges
Distribution outside California: n Baja California
Variable in leaves, inflorescence
Horticultural information: DRN, DRY: 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.