Jepson eFlora Family Key to Group 18

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

Group 18: Perianth in 2 whorls; petals 4 or more, all fused, corolla bilateral; pistil 1, ovary superior

1. Stamens > in number than corolla 

lobes 

1. A major expansion or bulge, such as on the margin of a leaf, sepal, or petal, or on the surface of an ovary. 2. The free tips of otherwise fused structures, such as sepals or petals; larger than teeth.

2. Leaf compound — petals proximally free but strongly adherent and may appear fused ..... FABACEAE (Papilionoideae)

2' Leaf 

simple 

Composed of a single part; undivided; unbranched.

, sometimes reduced to 

linear 

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

or scale-like bracts

3. Filaments fused, forming a U-shaped tube around the style — petals actually free but may appear fused ..... POLYGALACEAE {G15,22,23,24}

3' Filaments free

4. Shrub; 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'.

; anthers dehiscing by pores; ovules many; fruit a capsule ..... ERICACEAE (Rhododendron macrophyllum)

4' Herb or weak-stemmed subshrub; 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.

; anthers dehiscing by lateral slits; ovule 1; fruit an 

achene 

Dry, indehiscent, 1-seeded fruit from a 1-chambered ovary, sometimes winged, often appearing to be a naked seed. A 1-seeded dry fruit derived from an inferior ovary of > 1 carpel (e.g., Asteraceae, Dipsacaceae) is sometimes called a cypsela.

tightly enwrapped by hardened base of corolla-like calyx — petals actually 0 but sepals petal-like and 

involucre 

Group of bracts more or less held together as a unit, subtending a flower, fruit (acorn cup), or inflorescence.

 bracts sepal-like ..... NYCTAGINACEAE (Allionia)

1' Stamens = in number to corolla 

lobes 

1. A major expansion or bulge, such as on the margin of a leaf, sepal, or petal, or on the surface of an ovary. 2. The free tips of otherwise fused structures, such as sepals or petals; larger than teeth.

or fewer

5. Corolla scarious, persistent in fruit ..... PLANTAGINACEAE (Plantago) {G5,8,19}

5' Corolla not scarious, generally deciduous after flower

6. Fertile stamens = in number to corolla 

lobes 

1. A major expansion or bulge, such as on the margin of a leaf, sepal, or petal, or on the surface of an ovary. 2. The free tips of otherwise fused structures, such as sepals or petals; larger than teeth.

7. Ovary deeply 4-lobed, especially in fruit; style attachment surrounded by 

lobes 

1. A major expansion or bulge, such as on the margin of a leaf, sepal, or petal, or on the surface of an ovary. 2. The free tips of otherwise fused structures, such as sepals or petals; larger than teeth.

of ovary (style readily detaches in Lamiaceae as corolla falls); fruit breaking apart into 1-seeded nutlets (sometimes only 1–3 nutlets maturing)

8. Stem round in ×-section; cauline 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'.

(proximal 

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.

or in 

rosettes 

A radiating cluster of leaves generally at or near ground level.

in some Plagiobothrys); herbage not aromatic; inflorescence or inflorescence branches coiled at least when young, unrolling in flower or fruit ..... BORAGINACEAE {G19}

8' Stem 4-angled, at least when young; 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.

throughout; herbage generally strongly aromatic, especially if crushed; inflorescence or inflorescence branches not coiled, often clustered ..... LAMIACEAE (3) {G8,19}

7' Ovary 

entire 

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

or shallowly lobed; style clearly attached to tip of ovary; fruit a capsule or splitting into nutlets

9. Shrub; filaments attached directly to receptacle, falling free from corolla or only weakly adhering; anthers 

dehiscent 

Opening at maturity to release contents; usually pertaining to anthers or fruits.

by pores ..... ERICACEAE {G17,19,24}

9' Herb; filaments fused to and falling with corolla; anthers 

dehiscent 

Opening at maturity to release contents; usually pertaining to anthers or fruits.

by slits

10. Calyx 

lobes 

1. A major expansion or bulge, such as on the margin of a leaf, sepal, or petal, or on the surface of an ovary. 2. The free tips of otherwise fused structures, such as sepals or petals; larger than teeth.

bordered by or ± fused by a much thinner, transparent or translucent membrane; corolla generally 

funnel-shaped 

Widening from the base more or less gradually through the throat into an ascending, spreading, or recurved limb; often applied to a fused calyx or corolla.

to 

salverform 

Having a slender tube and an abruptly spreading, flat limb; often applied to a fused corolla.

; stigmas 3; ovary chambers 3 ..... POLEMONIACEAE {G19}

10' Calyx 

lobes 

1. A major expansion or bulge, such as on the margin of a leaf, sepal, or petal, or on the surface of an ovary. 2. The free tips of otherwise fused structures, such as sepals or petals; larger than teeth.

not bordered by or fused by transparent or translucent membrane; corolla ± 

rotate 

Wheel-shaped, spreading, or saucer-shaped; often applied to a fused corolla with a short or nonexistent tube and a spreading limb.

; stigmas 1–2; ovary chambers 1–4

11. Stems 

prostrate 

Lying flat on the ground.

to 

decumbent 

lying mostly flat on the ground but with tips curving up.

; corolla white to blue or purple, 2–8 mm diam; inflorescence cyme-like, or flowers solitary; fruit splitting into generally 4 one-seeded nutlets ..... EHRETIACEAE {G19}

11' Stems 

erect 

Upright; vertically oriented.

; corolla yellow (white to ± purple), 15–40 mm diam; inflorescence a narrow 

raceme 

In flowering plants excluding Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae, and some other groups, an unbranched inflorescence in which the flowers are borne on pedicels and nearly always open from the bottom to the top of the inflorescence. 2. In Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae, and some other groups, a raceme-like inflorescence is one in which the inflorescence units (e.g., heads in Asteraceae; spikelets in Cyperaceae and Poaceae), instead of individual flowers, are stalked and attached directly to the main axis of the inflorescence, not to branches, and in which floral development may or may not proceed as in 1.

or 

panicle 

1. In flowering plants excluding Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae, and some other groups, a branched inflorescence in which the basal or lateral flowers (or some of them) open before the terminal or central flowers on any axis. 2. In Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae, and some other groups, a panicle-like inflorescence is one in which at least some of the inflorescence units (e.g., heads in Asteraceae; spikelets in Cyperaceae and Poaceae), instead of individual flowers, are attached (stalked or unstalked) to branches and not directly to the main axis of the inflorescence and in which floral development may or may not proceed as in 1.

; fruit a many-seeded capsule ..... SCROPHULARIACEAE (Verbascum) {G19}

6' Fertile stamens fewer than corolla 

lobes 

1. A major expansion or bulge, such as on the margin of a leaf, sepal, or petal, or on the surface of an ovary. 2. The free tips of otherwise fused structures, such as sepals or petals; larger than teeth.

— 1 or more sterile stamens sometimes present

12. Plant entirely non-green, ± fleshy ..... OROBANCHACEAE (2)

12' Plant green and photosynthetic

13. Proximal portion of lower corolla lip with backward-projecting, conic or tubular spur

14. Plant aquatic; leaf-like underwater stems generally dissected, generally submersed, generally bearing small, hollow bladders that suck in and trap small organisms when hairs at opening are triggered ..... LENTIBULARIACEAE (Utricularia) {G2}

14' Plant terrestrial; leaves 

entire 

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

to shallowly lobed, without hollow bladders

15. Leaves 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.

; adaxial 

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).

face sticky or slimy with insect-capturing glands ..... LENTIBULARIACEAE (Pinguicula)

15' Leaves 

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.

and cauline or all cauline; adaxial 

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).

surface not sticky or slimy with insect-capturing glands ..... PLANTAGINACEAE (4) {G5,19}

13' Proximal portion of lower corolla lip without backward-projecting, conic or tubular spur, occasionally with expanded pouch

16. Ovary generally deeply 4-lobed; style attachment surrounded by 

lobes 

1. A major expansion or bulge, such as on the margin of a leaf, sepal, or petal, or on the surface of an ovary. 2. The free tips of otherwise fused structures, such as sepals or petals; larger than teeth.

of ovary [style readily detaches as corolla falls] — fruit breaking into 4 one-seeded nutlets ..... LAMIACEAE (3) {G8,19}

16' Ovary 

entire 

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

or ± shallowly lobed; style arising from tip of ovary

17. Ovules 1–4 per ovary chamber

18. Fruit a capsule

19. Shrub ..... ACANTHACEAE

19' Annual ..... PLANTAGINACEAE (4) {G5,19}

18' Fruit 2–4 nutlets

20. Stamens 

exserted 

Protruding out of surrounding structure(s) (e.g., stamens exserted from corolla).

..... LAMIACEAE (3) {G8,19}

20' Stamens 

included 

Not protruding out of surrounding structure(s) (e.g., stamens included in corolla).

..... VERBENACEAE {G19}

17' Ovules several to many per ovary chamber

21. Leaves compound ..... BIGNONIACEAE (2)

21' Leaves 

simple 

Composed of a single part; undivided; unbranched.

22. Capsule 5–35 cm

23. Shrub or tree; capsule body 15–35 cm, straight, 

linear 

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

..... BIGNONIACEAE (2)

23' Annual; capsule body 5–10 cm, curved, tipped with a hooked beak several cm long ..... MARTYNIACEAE

22' Capsule < 2 cm

24. Corolla upper lip forming a concave beak or hood, ± enclosing or covering stamens and style

25. Sterile stamen 0; 

lobes 

1. A major expansion or bulge, such as on the margin of a leaf, sepal, or petal, or on the surface of an ovary. 2. The free tips of otherwise fused structures, such as sepals or petals; larger than teeth.

of upper corolla lip obscure or 0 ..... OROBANCHACEAE (2)

25' Sterile stamen present, inserted on corolla tube between 

lobes 

1. A major expansion or bulge, such as on the margin of a leaf, sepal, or petal, or on the surface of an ovary. 2. The free tips of otherwise fused structures, such as sepals or petals; larger than teeth.

of upper corolla lip; lobes of upper lip evident ..... PLANTAGINACEAE (4) {G5,19}

24' Corolla upper lip not forming a beak or hood, not enclosing or covering stamens and style [though these may be 

included 

Not protruding out of surrounding structure(s) (e.g., stamens included in corolla).

within corolla tube or throat]

26. Stigma 

lobes 

1. A major expansion or bulge, such as on the margin of a leaf, sepal, or petal, or on the surface of an ovary. 2. The free tips of otherwise fused structures, such as sepals or petals; larger than teeth.

flat, disk-like, moving together when touched; cauline 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.

..... PHRYMACEAE {G2,19}

26' Stigma dot-like or head-like, unlobed, or 

lobes 

1. A major expansion or bulge, such as on the margin of a leaf, sepal, or petal, or on the surface of an ovary. 2. The free tips of otherwise fused structures, such as sepals or petals; larger than teeth.

not moving together when touched; cauline 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.

or 

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'.

(whorled) or leaves 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.

27. Leaves 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.

28. Flowers solitary; stamens 4; leaves 

linear 

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

or awl-like to spoon-shaped or 

ovate 

Egg-shaped (i.e., widest below the middle) in two dimensions (i.e., in one plane), as a leaf.

, 

entire 

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

..... SCROPHULARIACEAE (Limosella) {G2,19}

28' Flowers in 

raceme 

In flowering plants excluding Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae, and some other groups, an unbranched inflorescence in which the flowers are borne on pedicels and nearly always open from the bottom to the top of the inflorescence. 2. In Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae, and some other groups, a raceme-like inflorescence is one in which the inflorescence units (e.g., heads in Asteraceae; spikelets in Cyperaceae and Poaceae), instead of individual flowers, are stalked and attached directly to the main axis of the inflorescence, not to branches, and in which floral development may or may not proceed as in 1.

; stamens 2; leaves 

ovate 

Egg-shaped (i.e., widest below the middle) in two dimensions (i.e., in one plane), as a leaf.

to round, toothed or shallowly lobed ..... PLANTAGINACEAE (Synthyris)

27' Leaves 

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.

and cauline or all cauline

29. Stem 4-angled; corolla tube 

urn-shaped 

Widening more or less abruptly at the base and then gradually or abruptly narrowed toward the tip.

to spheric ..... SCROPHULARIACEAE (Scrophularia)

29' Stem generally round in ×-section; corolla tube 

cylindric 

Elongate, with parallel sides and, at any point, round in transverse section.

to bell-shaped, sometimes very short ..... PLANTAGINACEAE (4) {G5,19}