| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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Jepson Interchange (more information) |
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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, perennial herb, generally from rhizomes
Stem round or flat
Leaves generally mostly basal; sheath margins fused, or overlapping and generally with 2 ear-like extensions at blade junction; blade round, flat, or vestigial, glabrous or margin hairy
Inflorescence: head-like clusters or single flowers, variously arranged; bracts subtending inflorescence 2, generally leaf-like; bracts subtending inflorescence branches 1–2, reduced; bractlets subtending flowers generally 1–2, generally translucent
Flower generally bisexual, radial; sepals and petals similar, persistent, green to brown or purplish black; stamens generally 3 or 6, anthers linear, persistent; pistil 1, ovary superior, chambers generally 1 or 3, placentas 1 and basal or 3 and axile or parietal, stigmas generally > style
Fruit: capsule, loculicidal
Seeds 3–many, often with white appendages on 1 or both ends
Genera in family: 9 genera, 325 species: temp, arctic, tropical mtns. Fls late spring to early fall.
Perennial; rhizome often short, vertical
Stem round
Leaves mostly basal, reduced upward; sheath closed; margin and sheath opening generally with long, soft hairs; blades flat or channeled, veins indistinct, tips often thick
Inflorescence: head-like clusters or panicles of separate flowers; bractlets 1–3, margins often hairy
Flower: stamens 6; pistil 1, chamber 1, placenta basal
Seeds 3, plump, elliptic, often with a distinct ridge, sometimes attached to placenta by tuft of hairs
Species in genus: 80 species: worldwide, especially n hemisphere
Etymology: (Latin: light; Italian: glowworm)
When present, fleshy seed appendage (outer seed coat) adapts large seeds to ant dispersal.
| Native |
Plant densely cespitose, 6–30 cm
Stem 2 mm wide, reddish
Leaves many; blade < 20 cm (sometimes > stem), 4–6 mm wide, ± glabrous, tip < 12 mm, long-pointed, not thickened
Inflorescence cyme-like, open, 5–15 cm, width 1/2 to = length; branching mostly at right angles; flowers single on long pedicels; lowest bract < 2 cm, inconspicuous, bracts and bractlets clear
Flower: perianth segments 1.8–2.4 mm (sepals slightly > petals), narrowly acuminate, pale brown with reddish tint, midrib distinct; filaments ± = anthers
Fruit < to slightly > perianth, deep reddish brown
Seed 1.2 mm, light brown, with hair tuft
Ecology: Subalpine forests to alpine granitic slopes
Elevation: 2100–3700 m.
Bioregional distribution: High Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: Oregon, Nevada