TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
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Annual to tree
Stem prostrate to erect
Leaves alternate or opposite, simple, generally entire, bract-like upward; stipules 0
Inflorescence: cymes, often arrayed ± in spikes or panicles; bracts 13 per flower, generally membranous-scarious, tip often short-pointed or spine-like
Flower generally small, uni- or bisexual, radial; sepals 05, fused at base or free, often ± scarious; petals 0; stamens 05, opposite sepals (staminodes sometimes alternating), filaments sometimes fused at base; ovary superior, 1-chambered, ovules 1several, erect or pendent on ± basal stalks, styles 03, stigma head-like or 23-lobed
Fruit: utricle to circumscissile capsule
Seed lenticular to spheric, hard
Genera in family: ± 65 genera, ± 900 species: tropical, subtropical
Reference: [Robertson 1981 J Arnold Arbor 62:267313]
Annual to subshrub, ± mounded; hairs short, branched
Leaves entire, often asymmetric, petioled; lowest alternate to opposite; upper opposite or whorled in 3's, generally reduced, larger falling early
Inflorescence: clusters of 15 flowers, axillary, sessile, subtended and ± enclosed by involucres of 23 bract-like leaves that become hardened; bracts scarious
Flower bisexual; sepals 5, 11.5 mm, 1-veined, glabrous inside, sometimes canescent outside, reflexed, inner scarious-margined; stamens 5, filaments fused below into a cup, alternate 5 short staminodes; ovary spheric, style 1, short, stigma head-like or 2-lobed
Fruit indehiscent; wall membranous
Seed obovoid, brown
Species in genus: 7 species: w North America deserts
Etymology: (Ivar T. Tidestrom, Swedish-born botanist of sw US, 18641956)