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 |
Shrub, vine, tree, generally erect, often thorny
Leaves simple, generally alternate, often clustered on short-shoots, generally petioled, generally stipuled; blade often 13-ribbed from base
Inflorescence: cyme, panicle, or flowers solitary in axils
Flower generally bisexual, radial; hypanthium subtending, surrounding, or partly fused to ovary; sepals 4 or 5; petals 0, 4, or 5, clawed; stamens 4 or 5, alternate sepals, attached to hypanthium top, each generally fitting into a petal concavity; ovary superior or partly inferior, chambers 25, each 12-ovuled, style lobes or parts 13
Fruit: capsule, drupe
Genera in family: 55 genera, 900 species: especially tropical, subtropical; some cultivated (Ceanothus ; Colletia , anchor-plant; Gouania ; Phylica ; Rhamnus ; Ventilago ; Ziziphus )
Reference: [Brizicky 1965 J Arnold Arbor 45:439463]
Tree, shrub
Stem: branches opposite and alternate, rigid; twigs spreading, thorn-tipped or not, generally hairy
Leaves in part clustered on short-shoots, evergreen or deciduous; stipules deciduous; blade 35-ribbed from base, entire but generally with round, marginal glands
Inflorescence umbel-like, few-flowered; axis sometimes thorn-tipped
Flower: hypanthium filled with nectar in flower, lower part adhering to developing fruit, upper deciduous; sepals 5; petals 5, oblanceolate, = sepals; stamens 5; ovary chambers 3, each 1-ovuled, styles 3
Fruit: capsule, shallowly 3-valved
Species in genus: 31 species: warm places, worldwide
Etymology: (Latin: from French for serpent tree)
Reference: [Johnston 1971 Brittonia 23:253]
Native |
Shrub < 3 m
Leaves deciduous; blade 1230 mm, oblong to obovate, dull gray-green, hairs silky, denser on lower surface, base rounded or wedge-shaped, tip rounded to ± notched, sometimes with a small point
Inflorescence 510 mm, 312-flowered, very dense; pedicel 12 mm, 24 mm in fruit
Flowers appearing after rain; hypanthium 3 mm wide
Fruit 810 mm, persistent 36 months
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Creosote-bush scrub
Elevation: < 1000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Sonoran Desert
Distribution outside California: Arizona, Mexico
Flowering time: AprMay
Local
Horticultural information: DRN, DRY, SUN: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23.