| 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. |
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 1–2, reduced; bractlets subtending flowers generally 1–2, 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 3–many, 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.
Perennial; rhizome often short, vertical
Stem round
Leaves mostly basal, reduced upward; sheath closed; margin and sheath opening generally with long, soft hairs; blades flat or channeled, veins indistinct, tips often thick
Inflorescence: head-like clusters or panicles of separate flowers; bractlets 1–3, margins often hairy
Flower: stamens 6; pistil 1, chamber 1, placenta basal
Seeds 3, plump, elliptic, often with a distinct ridge, sometimes attached to placenta by tuft of hairs
Species in genus: 80 species: worldwide, especially n hemisphere
Etymology: (Latin: light; Italian: glowworm)
When present, fleshy seed appendage (outer seed coat) adapts large seeds to ant dispersal.
| Native |
Plant loosely cespitose, 20–50 cm
Leaves many; sheath opening with long, soft hairs; blade 12–17 cm, 5–8 mm wide, tip thickened; cauline leaves 3–5, 7–9 cm, 3–5 mm wide
Inflorescence cyme-like, open; flowers generally many; major branches long, nodding; terminal branches short; flowers generally 2–4 and crowded (or solitary); lowest bract inconspicuous; bracts and bractlets sparsely fringed, clear or brown
Flower: perianth segments 2–2.5 mm (sepals = petals), widely lanceolate, tips acute, pale to brown; filaments ± = anthers
Fruit generally > perianth, spheric, greenish to brown
Seed 1.1–1.3 mm, brown to brownish red or purple, with hair tuft
Chromosomes: 2n=22,24
Ecology: Moist places in coniferous woodlands
Elevation: 1000–3300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California (except Inner North Coast Ranges), Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, e N.America, Eurasia
Synonyms: var. fastigiata Buchenau; var. melanocarpa (Michx.) Buchenau