SOLANACEAE

NIGHTSHADE FAMILY

Michael Nee

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.

CHAMAESARACHA

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

C. nana (A. Gray) A. Gray

Stems 1–several from base, 5–25 cm
Leaf 15–50 mm
Inflorescence: pedicels 8–18 mm, in fruit < 3 cm, recurved
Flower: calyx ± 5 mm, in fruit < 10 mm, lobes in fruit 2–3 mm; corolla whitish; filaments 5 mm
Fruit 1–1.2 cm wide
Seeds 1.5–2 mm
Chromosomes: n=12
Ecology: Sandy soils, slopes, coniferous forest
Elevation: 1500–2800 m.
Bioregional distribution: Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, Great Basin Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: Oregon, Nevada
Flowering time: May–Jul
Synonyms: Leucophysalis nana (A. Gray) Averett
Horticultural information: DRN, DRY: 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 18 &SUN: 15, 16, 17; GRCVR.