Jepson eFlora Family Key to Group 1

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Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) . Jepson eFlora, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/ [accessed on ]

Group 1: Herbs; bulblets dispersed in place of seeds or fruits; available specimens without flowers

1. Leaves 

linear 

Elongate, with nearly parallel sides; narrower than elliptic or oblong.

, ± 

entire 

Having margins that are continuous and smooth (i.e., without teeth, lobes, etc.).

, sheathing at base

2. Plant with strong odor of onion or garlic; 

bulblets 

1. Small bulb generally produced at the base of a bulb. 2. Any small, bulb-like structure that propagates a plant, often in a leaf or bract axil.

in 

head 

1. A dense, often spheric inflorescence of sessile or subsessile flowers.
2. In Asteraceae and some other groups, a head-like inflorescence is one in which sessile or subsessile inflorescence units (e.g., heads in Asteraceae, umbels enclosed by involucres in Eriogonum), instead of individual flowers, are attached in a short dense cluster without an evident axis or branches.

or 

umbel 

1. In flowering plants excluding Asteraceae and some other groups, an inflorescence in which three to many pedicels and, if compound, branches (rays) radiate from a common point; characteristic of but not confined to Apiaceae. 2. In Asteraceae and some other groups, an umbel-like inflorescence is one in which three to many stalked inflorescence units (e.g., heads in Asteraceae, umbels enclosed by involucres in Eriogonum), instead of individual flowers, radiate from a common point of attachment without an evident axis or branches.

..... ALLIACEAE ([Allium sativum], Allium vineale)

2' Plant unscented; 

bulblets 

1. Small bulb generally produced at the base of a bulb. 2. Any small, bulb-like structure that propagates a plant, often in a leaf or bract axil.

in spike- or panicle-like cluster

3. Leaves stiff, sword-like, vertically folded, attached "edge-on" to stem, < 60 mm wide ..... IRIDACEAE (Watsonia meriana)

3' Leaves soft, flat or folded, not attached "edge-on" to stem, 1–2 mm wide ..... POACEAE (Poa bulbosa subsp. vivipara)

1' Leaves linear-elliptic to round, 

entire 

Having margins that are continuous and smooth (i.e., without teeth, lobes, etc.).

, toothed, or palmately lobed, not sheathing at base

4. Leaves 

opposite 

1. Arranged in pairs along an axis - e.g., two leaves per node. 2. Occurring in the same rank, directly above or below, as 'stamens opposite petals'. 3. Located directly across from.

, ± fleshy ..... MONTIACEAE (Montia chamissoi)

4' Leaves 

alternate 

1. Arranged singly, often spirally, along an axis - e.g., one leaf per node. 2. Occurring in different ranks, appearing to be between, not directly above or below, as 'stamens alternate petals'.

or all 

basal 

At or near the base of a plant or plant part. Especially said of leaves clustered near the ground or of a placenta confined to the base of an ovary.

, not fleshy

5. Proximal leaves 

sessile 

Without a petiole, peduncle, pedicel, or other kind of stalk.

or 

tapered 

Gradually (not abruptly) narrower or smaller at base or tip.

to short 

petioles 

Leaf stalk, connecting leaf blade to stem; sometimes more or less indistinct.

; 

leaf 

Organ arising from a stem, generally composed of a stalk (petiole) and a flat, expanded, green, photosynthetic area (blade); distinguished from a leaflet by the presence in its axil of a bud, branch, thorn, or flower; sometimes with lateral, basal appendages (stipules); either simple (toothed, lobed, or dissected but not divided into leaflets) or compound (divided into leaflets).

 

blade 

Expanded portion of a leaf, petal, or other structure, generally flat but sometimes rolled, cylindric, wavy, or cupped.

 

entire 

Having margins that are continuous and smooth (i.e., without teeth, lobes, etc.).

or sharply toothed ..... SAXIFRAGACEAE (Micranthes)

5' Proximal leaves abruptly slender-petioled; 

leaf 

Organ arising from a stem, generally composed of a stalk (petiole) and a flat, expanded, green, photosynthetic area (blade); distinguished from a leaflet by the presence in its axil of a bud, branch, thorn, or flower; sometimes with lateral, basal appendages (stipules); either simple (toothed, lobed, or dissected but not divided into leaflets) or compound (divided into leaflets).

 

blade 

Expanded portion of a leaf, petal, or other structure, generally flat but sometimes rolled, cylindric, wavy, or cupped.

 palmately lobed or divided

6. Proximal leaves 5–15 cm wide; plant stout, 30–150(200) cm ..... RANUNCULACEAE (Aconitum columbianum)

6' Proximal leaves 1.5–4 cm wide; plant slender, 8–50 cm ..... SAXIFRAGACEAE (Lithophragma)