| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
previous taxon |
next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information) |
|
|
©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 compound (palmate, pinnate, or leaflet 1), alternate, often ± basal in rosettes or in clusters at stem or rhizome tips, generally petioled; stipules generally 0; leaflets generally sessile
Inflorescence: cyme, sometimes umbel- or raceme-like, or flowers solitary, generally in axils; peduncle bracted
Flower generally bisexual, radial; sepals 5, free or fused at base; petals 5, free or fused above base; stamens 10 or 15, fused below, of 2 lengths; pistil 1, ovary superior, chambers 3–5, placentas axile, styles 1–5, generally ± free
Fruit: generally capsule, loculicidal
Seeds generally with aril
Genera in family: 8 genera, 575 species: especially temp. Often heterostylous.
Annual, perennial herb, shrub; roots fibrous or woody; bulbs, tubers, or rhizomes often present
Stem sometimes 0 or very short
Leaf petioled: stipules 0 or small; leaflets 3, generally ± obcordate in CA, generally entire, generally green
Flower: petals clawed; stamens 10; ovary chambers 5, styles 5, free, erect or curved
Fruit cylindric to spheric, explosively dehiscent
Seeds flat, often ridged; aril translucent
Species in genus: ± 480 species: especially temp
Etymology: (Greek: sour)
Reference: [Eiten 1963 Amer Midl Nat 69:257–309; Lourteig 1975 Phytologia 42:57–197]
Generally heterostylous; many (especially aliens in CA except O. laxa ) fine ornamental; some noxious weeds; contained oxalates may be toxic to livestock.
| Introduced |
Perennial; bulbs ovoid, dark brown, gummy
Stem 0 or very short
Leaves < 8, in basal rosette; petiole < 5 cm; leaflets < 4 cm, hairy on lower surface, drying with dark spots, streaks
Inflorescence: flowers solitary; peduncle 1–11 cm, bracts 2, at or below peduncle middle
Flower: sepals < 1 cm, ± lanceolate, hairy; petals < 2.5 cm, purple to red, salmon, or white
Fruit 0 in CA
Ecology: Waste places, especially near gardens
Elevation: < 100 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, San Francisco Bay Area
Distribution outside California: native to s Africa
Synonyms: O. variabilis Jacq
Fls late winter to early spring. Cult as ornamental.