| 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, perennial herb, or ± woody, generally hairy
Leaves simple to compound, basal and cauline; cauline alternate or opposite, stipules present
Inflorescence: cyme or umbel
Flower bisexual, radial or ± bilateral; sepals 5, free, overlapping in bud; petals 5, free, with nectar glands at base; stamens generally 5 or 10; staminodes scale-like or 0; pistil 5-lobed, chambers 5, placentas axile, styles 5, fused to axis, columnar in fruit, stigmas atop axis 5, free
Fruit: segments 5, dry, 1–2-seeded, separating from each other and then from column; fruit body dehiscent on 1 side or not; part of style persistent atop ovary and separating with it, curved to tightly coiled when dry
Genera in family: 14 genera, ± 750 species: temp, ± tropical. Some cultivated for ornamental, perfume oils
Reference: [Robertson 1972 J Arnold Arbor 53:182–201]
Family description, key to genera by M.S. Taylor.
Annual, perennial herb
Leaves simple to pinnately compound; lower basal; upper opposite; blade lanceolate to reniform in outline, base cordate to truncate, short-hairy
Inflorescence: umbel
Flower: stamens 5, alternate 5 scale-like staminodes
Fruit: body indehiscent, fusiform, 1-seeded, base sharply pointed, top generally pitted, pits subtended by 1–2 furrows or not; style segment persistent to fruit body stiffly hairy on side facing column
Species in genus: ± 75 species: temp Am, Eurasia, n Africa, Australia
Etymology: (Greek: heron, from bill-like fruit)
Reference: [Guittonneau 1972 Boissiera 20:1–154]
Some cultivated for forage, dyes.
| Introduced |
Annual, biennial
Stem decumbent to ascending, 1–6 dm, ± puberulent; nodes glandular
Leaf simple, 4–15 cm; blade generally < petiole, ovate to oblong, cordate, crenate to shallowly lobed, puberulent, veins short-appressed-hairy
Flower: sepals 4–6 mm, tip bristly; petals ± = sepals, purple to lavender
Fruit: body 3–5 mm, pit ± round, glandular, generally subtended by 1 furrow; style column 2–3 cm
Chromosomes: 2n=40
Ecology: Open sites, grassland, scrub
Elevation: < 500 m.
Bioregional distribution: n San Joaquin Valley, San Francisco Bay Area
Distribution outside California: native to s Europe