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 |
Perennial (annual), generally twining or trailing
Leaves alternate
Inflorescence: cyme or flowers solitary in axils; pedicels often with 2 bracts
Flower bisexual, radial; sepals 5, ± free, overlapping, persistent, often unequal; corolla generally showy, generally bell-shaped, ± shallowly 5-lobed, generally pleated and twisted in bud; stamens 5, epipetalous; pistil 1, ovary superior, chambers generally 2, ovules generally 2 per chamber, styles 12
Fruit: generally capsule
Seeds 14(6)
Genera in family: 50 genera, 1,000 species: warm temp to tropical; some cultivated as ornamental
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated to include Cuscutaceae [Angiosperm Phylogeny Group 1998 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 85:531553].
(Family description, key to genera by L.T. Dempster)
Annual, perennial herb from rhizome or caudex
Stem trailing to high-climbing
Leaf petioled; blade cordate, sometimes lobed
Inflorescence: bracts 0
Flower: corolla generally ± funnel-shaped, not or barely lobed; style 1, stigma head-like or of 23 spheric lobes
Fruit spheric; valves 24
Etymology: (Greek: worm-like)
Species in genus: 500 species: tropical and warm temp; some cultivated as ornamental or for food (I. batatas, sweet-potato).
Introduced |
Perennial
Leaf palmately compound, ± glabrous; central leaflet generally < 5 cm
Inflorescence: peduncles generally 1-flowered
Flower: sepals < 1 cm, ± ovate, tip rounded; corolla ± 9 cm, white to purple
Ecology: Disturbed places
Elevation: ± 300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Outer South Coast Ranges (Santa Margarita Lake, San Luis Obispo Co.)
Distribution outside California: native to S.America
cultivated as ornamental
Synonyms: I. palmata Forssk