Jepson eFlora Family Key to Group 22

Please use this Google Form for Contact/Feedback

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

Group 22: Leaves simple; perianth in 2 or more whorls or spirals; petals 4 or more (rarely fewer), free; stamens > 2 × as many as petals; pistil 1, ovary superior

1. Ovary chamber 1

2. Hypanthium present

3. Sepals fused into conical cap that falls away as flower opens, 0 in open flower; petals 4 — 

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.

 receptacle readily misinterpreted as a 

hypanthium 

Structure generally in the shape of a tube, cup, or bowl, derived from the fused lower portions of the perianth and stamens, from which these parts seem to arise, and to which the ovary wall is fused in an inferior ovary (to which the ovary wall is partially fused in a half-inferior ovary; from which the ovary is free in a superior ovary).

..... PAPAVERACEAE (Eschscholzia)

3' Sepals present in open flower; petals (2)5

4. Flowers ± 

radial 

Divisible into mirror-image halves in three or more ways.

; petals generally 5, oblanceolate to ± round, not 

recurved 

Gradually curved downward or backward.

..... ROSACEAE (2) {G10,15,21,23}

4' Flowers strongly 

bilateral 

Divisible into mirror-image halves in only one way.

; petals 2, narrowly awl-like, 

recurved 

Gradually curved downward or backward.

— sepals obovate; fruit opening before seeds mature, becoming widely 

dehiscent 

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

..... SAXIFRAGACEAE (Bensoniella)

2' Hypanthium 0

5. Inflorescence a 

spike 

1. In flowering plants excluding Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae, and some other groups, an unbranched inflorescence in which the flowers are sessile and nearly always open from the bottom to the top of the inflorescence. 2. In Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae, and some other groups, a spike-like inflorescence is one in which the inflorescence units (e.g., heads in Asteraceae; spikelets in Cyperaceae and Poaceae), instead of individual flowers, are sessile 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 1–many heads

6. Shrub or tree; fruit a legume ..... FABACEAE (Mimosoideae)

6' Herb; fruit a capsule, 

dehiscent 

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

at tip ..... RESEDACEAE (Reseda)

5' Inflorescence a 

cyme 

1. In flowering plants excluding Asteraceae and some other groups, a branched inflorescence in which the central or uppermost flower opens before the peripheral or lowermost flowers on any axis. see 2. In Asteraceae and some other groups, a cyme-like inflorescence is one in which the central or uppermost inflorescence units (e.g., heads in Asteraceae, umbels enclosed by involucres in Eriogonum), instead of individual flowers, develop and mature before the peripheral or lowermost inflorescence units on any axis.

, 

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.

, 

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.

, 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.

, or flower solitary

7. Sepals 2–3 (fused into conical cap in Eschscholzia), early-deciduous, 0 in open flower; latex generally present [at least in roots], generally milky or colored ..... PAPAVERACEAE (Papaveroideae) {G12,15,20,24}

7' Sepals 2–5(8), persistent; milky or colored latex 0

8. Filaments fused at base into 3–5 bunches ..... HYPERICACEAE (2) {G24}

8' Filaments free to base

9. Sepals 3 or 5; 

placentas 

Structure or area to which ovules are attached in an ovary; variously shaped and positioned.

 

parietal 

Pertaining to placentas on the inside surface of the ovary wall in a compound ovary with one or more chambers.

, ovary chamber 1 (or ± 3–12 from intruded placentas); annual to shrub; plant hairy (± glabrous), not at all fleshy; capsule splitting by valves ..... CISTACEAE

9' Sepals 2–8; 

placentas 

Structure or area to which ovules are attached in an ovary; variously shaped and positioned.

 

free-central 

Pertaining to a placenta along the central axis in a compound ovary with only one chamber.

, ovary chamber 1; annual or taprooted 

perennial 

Completing life cycle (germination through death) in more than two years or growing seasons, generally non-woody (at least above ground) to woody; includes perennial herbs as well as subshrubs to trees; the abbreviation 'per' only refers to perennial herb, not to the word 'perennial' alone.

 herb; plant ± glabrous, generally ± fleshy; capsule 

circumscissile 

Dehiscence, usually of a fruit (capsule), by a transverse line, the top coming off as a lid.

or splitting by valves ..... MONTIACEAE {G19,24}

1' Ovary chambers 2–many

10. Leaves hollow, tubular, often holding watery fluid within ..... SARRACENIACEAE

10' Leaves with ordinary flat blades

11. Plant aquatic; leaves 1–4 dm, 

oblong 

Longer than wide, with nearly parallel sides; wider than linear.

or 

ovate 

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

to round, floating or rising a short distance above the water surface ..... NYMPHAEACEAE (Nuphar)

11' Plant terrestrial, sometimes in wet soil; leaves often < 1 dm

12. Flowers unisexual — ovary 3-lobed ..... EUPHORBIACEAE (Ditaxis) {G24}

12' Flowers 

bisexual 

Both male and female reproductive parts occurring and functional in the same plant or structure (e.g., flower, spikelet, inflorescence).

13. Filaments fused into tube around style; anther chamber 1 or appearing so

14. Flowers 

radial 

Divisible into mirror-image halves in three or more ways.

; stamens many; filament tube 

cylindric 

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

..... MALVACEAE {G8,19,20}

14' Flowers 

bilateral 

Divisible into mirror-image halves in only one way.

; stamens 6–8; filament tube open on one side ..... POLYGALACEAE {G15,18,23,24}

13' Filaments free or fused at base into groups; anther chambers 2

15. 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 

whorled 

Arranged in groups of three or more at nodes or positions along an axis (e.g., three leaves per node).

(distal occasionally alternate), 

entire 

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

16. Petals yellow (salmon) ..... HYPERICACEAE (2) {G24}

16' Petals white to purple

17. Shrub — ovary actually 1/2 inferior but easily interpreted as superior ..... HYDRANGEACEAE (Carpenteria) {G16,21}

17' Herb ..... LYTHRACEAE {G24}

15' 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'.

throughout, 

entire 

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

to lobed

18. Hypanthium present ..... ROSACEAE (2) {G10,15,21,23}

18' Hypanthium 0

19. Petals 4–5; sepals 4–5, present in open flower, persistent in fruit; stamens 12–15 ..... NITRARIACEAE {G20}

19' Petals 6; sepals 3, early-deciduous, 0 in open flower; stamens many ..... PAPAVERACEAE (Romneya) {G12}