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 |
Annual, perennial herb, generally from rhizomes
Stem round or flat
Leaves generally mostly basal; sheath margins fused, or overlapping and generally with 2 ear-like extensions at blade junction; blade round, flat, or vestigial, glabrous or margin hairy
Inflorescence: head-like clusters or single flowers, variously arranged; bracts subtending inflorescence 2, generally leaf-like; bracts subtending inflorescence branches 12, reduced; bractlets subtending flowers generally 12, generally translucent
Flower generally bisexual, radial; sepals and petals similar, persistent, green to brown or purplish black; stamens generally 3 or 6, anthers linear, persistent; pistil 1, ovary superior, chambers generally 1 or 3, placentas 1 and basal or 3 and axile or parietal, stigmas generally > style
Fruit: capsule, loculicidal
Seeds 3many, often with white appendages on 1 or both ends
Genera in family: 9 genera, 325 species: temp, arctic, tropical mtns. Fls late spring to early fall.
Annual, perennial herb; rhizome (if any) generally with scale-like leaves
Stem generally cylindric or flat
Leaf: blade well developed and cylindric or flat, or reduced to small point; crosswalls often present (pull fresh blade apart lengthwise to see or slide leaf between fingers to feel); appendages often present at blade-sheath junction
Inflorescence generally terminal (appearing lateral when pushed aside by lowest inflorescence bract); bractlets 02
Flowers: stamens generally 3 or 6 (2 in some very small annual taxa); pistil 1, ovary chambers 1 or 3, placentas axile or parietal, stigmas generally 3(2)
Seeds many
Species in genus: 225 species: worldwide, especially n hemisphere
Etymology: (Latin: to join or bind, from use of stems)
Reference: [Ertter 1986 Mem NY Bot Gard 39:190]
Native |
Perennial, cespitose, 2080 cm; rhizome short
Leaves mostly basal; sheath appendages 1.55 mm, rounded; blade cylindric, crosswalls complete, obvious
Inflorescence: lowest bract < inflorescence; branches spreading; clusters generally 650, 520-flowered
Flower: perianth segments 2.53.5 mm, ± equal, narrowly acuminate, light brown to greenish; stamens generally 3, filaments slightly > anthers
Fruit ± = perianth, light brown; chamber 1
Seed 0.30.4 mm; appendages minute
Chromosomes: 2n=40
Ecology: Uncommon. Sandy riverbanks, lake shores, ditches
Elevation: generally < 500 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range Foothills, Great Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, e N.America, Mexico
All species with complete leaf crosswalls may be enlarged and deformed by sucking insects.