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 1545 cm; rhizome vertical, stout
Stem flat
Leaf: cauline leaves 23; sheath appendages prominent, rounded to acute, opaque; blade ± flat with edge toward stem, crosswalls complete but generally obscure
Inflorescence: lowest bract short-sheathing, wide, narrow tip > inflorescence; cluster generally 1, generally > 12-flowered; bractlets short-awned, dark brown, opaque
Flower: perianth segments 34 mm, soft, shiny brownish black, sepals narrowly acuminate, petals acute; stamens 6, filaments < to > anthers
Fruit ± = perianth, oblong; tip notched
Seed ± 0.5 mm, ovate-lanceolate; appendages minute
Chromosomes: 2n=40
Ecology: Common. Alpine and subalpine meadows, streambanks, lake margins
Elevation: 12003500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, Inner North Coast Ranges, High Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, Warner Mountains, White and Inyo Mountains
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, South Dakota, Colorado
Flowering time: JulAug
Important forage for sheep
Horticultural information: WET: 1, 2, 3, 18.