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 or perennial herb, generally fleshy
Stems generally glabrous
Leaves simple, alternate or opposite, sometimes stipuled
Inflorescence various
Flower bisexual, radial; sepals generally 2(8), free or fused at base; petals 318, free or ± fused; stamens 1many, free or inserted on corolla; ovary superior or partly inferior, chamber 1, placenta free-central or basal; styles 28, generally fused at base
Fruit: capsule, circumscissile or 23-valved
Seeds 1many, generally black, generally shiny
Genera in family: ± 20 genera, ± 400 species: generally temp Am, Australia, s Africa; some cultivated (Lewisia, Portulaca, Calandrinia )
Reference: [Bogle 1969 J Arnold Arbor 50:566598]
Family description and key to genera by Dieter H. Wilken & Walter A. Kelley.
Annual, ± fleshy
Stems severalmany, spreading to erect
Leaves simple, alternate or opposite, upper 25 forming involucre; blade linear, ovate, or spoon-shaped, flat or cylindric
Inflorescence: flowers solitary or in clusters at stem tips
Flower: sepals 2, fused at base, lower portion fused to ovary and persistent in fruit; petals 46, inserted on calyx, yellow; stamens 420; ovary ± inferior, 1-chambered; style 36-branched
Fruit: capsule, circumscissile
Seeds many, reniform, ± tuberculate
Species in genus: 100 species: warm regions worldwide
Etymology: (Probably Latin: small gate or door, from capsule lid)
Reference: [Matthews & Levins 1985 Sida 11(1):4561]
Introduced |
Stem spreading
Leaf 530 mm, ovate to spoon-shaped, generally flat
Inflorescence: flowers solitary or in clusters of 25 at stem tips
Flower: sepals 35 mm, green or reddish, generally keeled; petals 35 mm, yellow; stamens 520; style 46-branched
Fruit 38 mm wide
Seed 0.61 mm wide, dark brown to black
Chromosomes: 2n=36,54
Ecology: Disturbed soil
Elevation: < 1400 m.
Bioregional distribution: California
Distribution outside California: native to Europe
Flowering time: MaySep
Synonyms: P. retusa Engelm