BORAGINACEAE

BORAGE FAMILY

Annual, perennial herb, shrubs, generally bristly or sharply hairy
Stem prostrate to erect
Leaves cauline, often with basal rosette, generally simple, alternate; lower sometimes opposite, entire
Inflorescence: cyme, generally elongate, panicle-, raceme- or spike-like, coiled in flower, generally uncoiled in fruit or flowers 1–2 per axil
Flowers generally bisexual, generally radial; sepals 5, free or fused in lower half; corolla 5-lobed, generally salverform, top of tube generally appendaged, appendages 5, alternating with stamens, sometimes arching over tube; stamens 5, epipetalous; ovary superior, generally 4-lobed, style generally entire
Fruit: nutlets 1–4, smooth to variously roughened, sometimes prickly or bristled
Genera in family: ± 100 genera, ± 2000 species: tropical, temp, especially w North America, Medit; some cultivated (Borago, Echium, Myosotis, Symphytum ). Almost all genera may be TOXIC from alkaloids or accumulated nitrates
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated to include Hydrophyllaceae [Olmsted et al. 2000 Mol Phylog Evol 16:96–112]
Family description, key to genera by Timothy C. Messick.

HACKELIA

STICKSEED

Robert L. Carr

Perennial (rarely biennial); hairs appressed to spreading; caudex generally branched in age, often ± woody, taprooted
Stem ascending or erect
Leaves: lowest generally with petioles ± = blades, ± winged; other leaves generally sessile, becoming bract-like toward inflorescence
Inflorescence: cymes, generally ± terminal, generally > 3, generally arrayed in panicles, coiled at tips
Flower radial; corolla rotate-salverform, with appendage near base of each lobe
Fruit: nutlets erect, > style, generally with lateral-medial scar, generally with barb-tipped prickles on margin and exposed face
Species in genus: 40 species: generally w North America, se Asia
Etymology: (J. Hackel, Czech botanist, born 1783)
Reference: [Gentry & Carr 1976 Mem New York Bot Gard 26:121–227]
Difficult genus needing much work, especially in n CA, se Asia; sometimes merged with Lappula
Horticultural information: TRY; DFCLT.

Native

H. floribunda (Lehm.) I.M. Johnst.

Biennial to short-lived perennial herb
Stem generally 4–12 dm; hairs generally spreading, ± coarse
Leaves: caudex generally < cauline, ephemeral; lower cauline generally 5–24 cm, 5–35 mm wide, oblanceolate to narrow-elliptic
Inflorescence elongate, narrow
Flower: corolla blue, limb generally 4–8 mm wide, sometimes smaller
Fruit: nutlets 2–4 mm, marginal prickles sometimes fused basally, ± forming a wing, facial prickles generally 0–3, < marginal
Chromosomes: n=±12
Ecology: Meadows, streambanks, other vernally wet areas, less often open slopes, forests
Elevation: 700–3100 m.
Bioregional distribution: Sierra Nevada, Warner Mountains, East of Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: w N.America
Flowering time: Jun–Aug