ROSACEAE

ROSE FAMILY

Annual to tree
Leaves simple to pinnately to palmately compound, generally alternate; stipules free to fused, persistent to deciduous
Inflorescence: cyme, raceme, panicle, or flowers solitary
Flower generally bisexual, radial; hypanthium free or fused to ovary, saucer- to funnel-shaped, often with bractlets alternate with sepals; sepals generally 5; petals generally 5, free; stamens (0)5–many, pistils (0)1–many, simple or compound; ovary superior to inferior, styles 1–5
Fruit: achene, follicle, drupe, pome, or blackberry- to raspberry-like
Seeds generally 1–5
Genera in family: 110 genera, ± 3000 species: worldwide, especially temp. Many cultivated for ornamental and fruit, especially Cotoneaster , Fragaria , Malus , Prunus , Pyracantha, Rosa , and Rubus
Reference: [Robertson 1974 J Arnold Arbor 55:303–332,344–401,611–662]
Family description, key to genera by Barbara Ertter and Dieter H. Wilken.

SANGUISORBA

Barbara Ertter

Annual or perennial herb, sometimes monoecious; hairs 0 or partitioned, not glandular
Leaves alternate, odd-1-pinnate; leaflets generally evenly toothed or lobed
Inflorescence: spikes 1–many, head-like; peduncles long
Flowers bisexual (or upper pistillate, lower staminate); hypanthium urn-shaped; bractlets 0; sepals generally 4; petals 0; stamens 0–many; pistils 0–3, ovaries superior, continuous to style at top, stigma generally ± shrub-like, exserted
Fruit: hypanthium hard, 4-angled, enclosing achenes
Species in genus: ± 25 species: n temp, arctic
Etymology: (Latin: blood-absorbing, from styptic properties)
Reference: [Nordberg 1966 Opera Bot 11(2):1–103]

Native

S. officinalis L.

GREAT BURNET

Perennial; rhizome thick, creeping
Stem erect, generally 50–140 cm
Leaves: basal present at flower, largest generally 20–40 cm; leaflets 3–6 per side, largest blade 25–50 mm, ovate-oblong, stalk 3–25 mm, teeth generally > 15, < 1/3 to midvein
Inflorescence generally 12–20 mm, 7–10 mm wide, ± elliptic-ovoid, > 20-flowered
Flower: sepals 2–3.5 mm, elliptic-ovate, dark purplish; stamens 2–4, filaments not thread-like
Fruit 2.5–3.5 mm, barely winged; faces ± smooth
Chromosomes: n=14, 21,28
Ecology: Bogs, streams, often on serpentine
Elevation: 120–1400 m.
Bioregional distribution: c North Coast, nw Klamath Ranges, n Outer North Coast Ranges
Distribution outside California: to Alaska
CA plants may be subsp. microcephala (C. Presl) Calder & Roy L. Taylor
Synonyms: S. m. C. Presl
Horticultural information: In cultivation.