TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) previous taxon | next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora.

    THIS PAGE IS NO LONGER UPDATED
    AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY
  • Up-to-date information about California vascular plants is available from the Jepson eFlora.

POLEMONIACEAE

PHLOX FAMILY

Robert W. Patterson, Family Editor

Annual, perennial herb, shrub, vine
Leaves simple or compound, cauline (or most in basal rosette), alternate or opposite; stipules 0
Inflorescence: cymes, heads, or flowers solitary
Flower: calyx generally 5-ribbed, ribs often connected by translucent membranes that are generally torn by growing fruit; corolla generally 5-lobed, radial or bilateral, salverform to bell-shaped, throat often well defined; stamens generally 5, epipetalous, attached at same or different levels, filaments of same or different lengths, pollen white, yellow, blue, or red; ovary superior, chambers generally 3, style 1, stigmas generally 3
Fruit: capsule
Seeds 1–many, gelatinous or not when wet
Genera in family: 19 genera, 320 species: Am, n Eur, n Asia; some cultivated (Cantua, Cobaea (cup-and-saucer vine), Collomia, Gilia, Ipomopsis, Linanthus, Phlox )
Recent taxonomic note: *See also revised taxonomy of Porter and Johnson 2000 Aliso 19(1):55–91; Porter 1998 Aliso 17:83–85
.

LINANTHUS

Robert W. Patterson

Annual, perennial herb
Stem generally erect, generally branched from base
Leaves cauline, opposite, entire or palmately 3–9-lobed; lobes linear to narrowly lanceolate or spoon-shaped
Inflorescence head-like, open, or flower solitary; bracts leaf-like; flowers sessile or pedicelled
Flower: calyx tubular, or lobes nearly free, bordered by translucent membrane; corolla funnel-shaped, salverform, or bell-shaped; stamens attached at same level, pollen yellow
Species in genus: 41 species: w North America, Chile
Etymology: (Greek: flax flower)
Reference: [Patterson 1977 Madroño 24:36–48]

Native

L. bellus (A. Gray) Greene

DESERT BEAUTY

Annual
Stems many, thread-like, generally glabrous
Leaf: lobes 2–4 mm, linear
Inflorescence: flower solitary, sessile; bracts several
Flower: calyx 3–4 mm, tube obscure, purple band at base, lobes bordered by membrane; corolla widely funnel-shaped, tube 2 mm, purple, throat yellow, lobes 5–10 mm, widely lanceolate, pink with paired basal purple spots; stamens attached in base of throat
Chromosomes: 2n=18
Ecology: Desert chaparral areas in sandy soils
Elevation: 1000–1400 m.
Bioregional distribution: se Peninsular Ranges (se San Diego Co.)
Distribution outside California: Baja California

previous taxon | next taxon
bioregional map for LINANTHUS%20bellus being generated
 


Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Linanthus bellus
Retrieve dichotomous key for Linanthus
Return to treatment index page
Glossary
University & Jepson Herbaria Home Page | Copyright © by the Regents of the University of California