| 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 to trees, some dioecious
Stem: nodes often swollen
Leaves simple, basal or cauline, alternate, opposite, or whorled, generally entire; stipules 0 or obvious and fused into a generally scarious sheath around stem
Inflorescence: small cluster, axillary or arrayed in cymes or panicles; involucres sometimes subtending 1–many flowers
Flower generally bisexual, small, ± radial; perianth generally 5–6-lobed, base ± tapered, often jointed to pedicel; stamens 2–9, often in 2 whorls; ovary superior, styles generally 3, generally fused at base
Fruit: achene, generally enclosed by persistent perianth, generally 3-angled, ovoid, and glabrous
Genera in family: 50 genera, 1100 species: worldwide, especially n temp; some cultivated for food (Fagopyrum ; Rheum , rhubarb; Rumex , sorrel) or ornamental (Antigonon , coral-vine; Muehlenbeckia ; Polygonum )
Reference: [Ronse Decraene & Akeroyd 1988 Bot J Linn Soc 98:321–371; Reveal et al. 1989 Phytologia 66(2–4):83–414]
Treatments of the 15 eriogonoid genera are based on the monographic work of James L. Reveal, who is gratefully acknowledged.
Annual, perennial herb, shrub, vine
Stem prostrate to erect, or climbing, or floating, < 3 m
Leaves generally cauline, alternate, sessile or petioled; stipules fused, sheathing stem above nodes, generally scarious or membranous; blade sometimes obviously jointed to stipule sheath
Inflorescence: unit a 1–8-flowered cluster, these arrayed singly or in head-like to open panicles
Flower: perianth lobes generally 5; stamens 3–8, filaments generally wider at base
Fruit generally ovoid, 3-angled, sometimes round, flat, indented; shiny to dull, brown to black
Species in genus: ± 300 species: worldwide, especially n temp
Etymology: (Greek: many knees, from swollen nodes of some species)
Reference: [Ronse Decraene & Ackeroyd 1988 Bot J Linn Soc 98:321–371]
Segregate genera (e.g., Bistorta, Fallopia, Persicaria ) are sometimes recognized.
| Introduced |
Annual or weak perennial herb
Stem prostrate to erect, < 1.5 m, round, ribbed
Leaves generally 0.5–2 cm, generally smaller upward and on side branches, jointed to stipule sheath, sessile; blade linear to narrowly elliptic
Inflorescence: flowers 2–8 in nearly all axils
Flower: perianth 2–3.2 mm, fused 30–50% its length, green, margin white or pink, base in fruit often prominently veiny
Fruit 2–3 mm, at maturity generally 2 sides convex, 1 ± concave, dark brown, ± dull
Chromosomes: 2n=40,60
Ecology: Abundant. Disturbed places
Elevation: < 2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: California
Distribution outside California: to e N.America, native to Europe
Flowering time: Jul–Aug
Synonyms: P. montereyense Brenckle
Highly variable, tolerant of trampling. P. aviculare L. (perianth 3.1–4.9 mm, fruit 2.8–3.8 mm: Styles 1962 Watsonia 5:177–214) is very closely related, apparently undocumented in CA.