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. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
Annual to tree
Leaves generally compound, alternate, stipuled; leaflets generally entire
Inflorescence: generally raceme, spike, umbel or head; flowers sometime 12 in axils
Flowers generally bisexual, generally bilateral; hypanthium generally flat or cup-like; sepals generally 5, fused; petals generally 5, free, or the 2 lower ± fused; stamens 1many, often 10 with 9 filaments at least partly fused, 1 (uppermost) free; pistil 1, ovary superior, generally 1-chambered, ovules 1many, style, stigma 1
Fruit: legume, sometimes including a stalk-like base above receptacle, dehiscent, or indehiscent and breaking into 1-seeded segments, or indehiscent, 1-seeded, and achene-like
Seeds 1several, often ± reniform, generally hard, smooth
Genera in family: ± 650 genera, 18,000 species: worldwide; with grasses, requisite in agriculture and most natural ecosystems. Many cultivated, most importantly Arachis , peanut; Glycine , soybean; Phaseolus , beans; Medicago ; Trifolium ; and many orns
Reference: [Polhill & Raven (eds) 1981 Advances in legume systematics; Allen & Allen 1981 Leguminosae]
Family description and key to genera by Duane Isely.
Annual, perennial herb, shrub, unarmed
Leaves generally odd-1-pinnate (sometimes ± palmately compound, rarely some or most simple); stipules conspicuous or not; leaflets 3many, often irregularly arranged
Inflorescence: umbel or 12-flowered, axillary, generally peduncled, often bracted
Flower: corolla generally yellow (sometimes white or pink), fading darker; 9 filaments fused, 1 free
Fruit dehiscent or not, exserted from calyx or not, ovoid to oblong, ± beaked
Seeds 1several
Etymology: (Greek: derivation unclear)
Reference: [Isely 1981 Mem New York Bot Garden 25:128206]
Spp. generally variable; intermediates may be hybrids. Key below separates natural groups.
Native |
Perennial (or flowering first year and appearing annual), finely strigose
Stem prostrate or ascending
Leaf small; stipules gland-like; leaflets 35, 510 mm, oblanceolate to obovate; axis sometimes flat, blade-like
Inflorescence 28-flowered; peduncle 125 mm; bract present or 0
Flower: calyx 35 mm, lobes < tube, triangular, straight; corolla 68 mm, yellow
Fruit indehiscent, oblong-tapered; beak recurved
Seeds 12
Ecology: Coastal sand, chaparral, disturbed areas, sometimes on serpentine
Elevation: < 500 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Outer North Coast Ranges, Central Coast, Outer South Coast Ranges.
Native |
Stem generally decumbent, often wiry
Inflorescence: peduncle 825 mm
Fruit: body well exserted
Ecology: Coastal sand, chaparral, disturbed areas
Elevation: < 500 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Outer North Coast Ranges, Central Coast, Outer South Coast Ranges
Horticultural information: DRN, SUN: 14, 15, 16, 17; STBL.