CAMPANULACEAE

BELLFLOWER FAMILY

Nancy Morin, except as specified

Annual to tree
Leaves generally cauline, generally simple, generally alternate, petioled or not; stipules 0
Inflorescence: panicle, raceme, spike, or flowers solitary in axils, generally open; bracts leaf-like or not
Flower: bisexual, radial or bilateral, sometimes inverted (pedicel twisted 180°; hypanthium generally present, ± fused to ovary; sepals generally 5; corolla radial to 2-lipped, generally fused (tube sometimes split down back), lobes generally 5; stamens 5, free or ± fused (anthers and filaments fused into tube or filaments fused above middle); ovary inferior, sometimes half inferior, chambers 1–3, placentas axile or parietal, ovules many, style generally 1, 2–5-branched
Fruit: generally capsule, dehiscing on sides or at tip by pores or short valves
Seeds many
Genera in family: ± 70 genera, ± 2000 species: worldwide. Some cultivated for ornamental (Campanula, Jasione, Lobelia ). Subfamilies sometimes treated as different families.

GITHOPSIS

BLUECUP

Annual, glabrous to hairy; roots fibrous
Stem erect, simple or branched, 2–40 cm, 4-angled
Leaves cauline, widely linear to ovate, serrate, sessile
Inflorescence: flowers generally solitary, terminal
Flower pedicelled or not; sepals 0.5–3 X ovary, linear to narrowly triangular; corolla cylindric, funnel-, or bell-shaped, throat white, lobes linear to widely ovate, white to deep purple; ovary inferior, obconic to cylindric and narrowed near middle
Fruit dehiscing at top, through opening formed when style base falls off
Seeds ± 1 mm, angular-fusiform
Species in genus: 4 species: w North America
Etymology: (Greek: Githago -like)
Reference: [Morin 1983 Syst Bot 8:436–468]

Native

G. pulchella Vatke

Plant glabrous to hairy
Stem erect, 4–40 cm
Leaf 3–20 mm; bracts 2–15 mm, 2–30 mm apart, lanceolate
Flower: pedicel 0–10 mm; sepals 2 X ovary; corolla 7–24 mm, 1–1.5 X longer than wide at level of sinuses, narrowly to widely bell-shaped, lobes < to > tube, light violet to deep blue; filament bases wide, ciliate; ovary 2.5–10.5 mm, cylindric to obconic, 2–5 X longer than wide at top, base long-tapered, top round, ribs 10, equal, style 4–12 mm, upper 66–90% papillate
Chromosomes: n=10
Ecology: Oak woodland
Elevation: 30–1300 m.
Bioregional distribution: High Cascade Range, n&c Sierra Nevada.

Native

subsp. pulchella

Stem 10–40 cm; upper branches 3.2–6 cm or longer
Leaf 7–18 mm; bracts 5–13 mm apart
Flower: pedicel 0–7 mm; corolla 10–24 mm, 7–14 mm wide at sinuses, widely bell-shaped, lobes 5–19 mm, deep blue; ovary 5.5–10.5 mm, cylindric to narrowly obconic, glabrous to finely hairy, deeply ribbed in fruit, style 5–12 mm, 0.5–1 mm wide, upper 75–90% papillate
Ecology: Grassy openings
Elevation: 30–1300 m.
Bioregional distribution: n&c Sierra Nevada.Glabrous plants on serpentine outcrops are var. glabra (Jeps.) N. Morin
Horticultural information: TRY.