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, perennial herb, shrubs, generally bristly or sharply hairy
Stem prostrate to erect
Leaves cauline, often with basal rosette, generally simple, alternate; lower sometimes opposite, entire
Inflorescence: cyme, generally elongate, panicle-, raceme- or spike-like, coiled in flower, generally uncoiled in fruit or flowers 12 per axil
Flowers generally bisexual, generally radial; sepals 5, free or fused in lower half; corolla 5-lobed, generally salverform, top of tube generally appendaged, appendages 5, alternating with stamens, sometimes arching over tube; stamens 5, epipetalous; ovary superior, generally 4-lobed, style generally entire
Fruit: nutlets 14, smooth to variously roughened, sometimes prickly or bristled
Genera in family: ± 100 genera, ± 2000 species: tropical, temp, especially w North America, Medit; some cultivated (Borago, Echium, Myosotis, Symphytum ).Almost all genera may be TOXIC from alkaloids or accumulated nitrates
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated to include Hydrophyllaceae [Olmsted et al. 2000 Mol Phylog Evol 16:96112]
Family description, key to genera by Timothy C. Messick.
Annual, perennial herb, generally strigose
Stem prostrate to erect, branched at base or above, < 5 dm
Leaves simple, 0.510 cm, generally smaller upward; all cauline (lower opposite, linear to oblong, upper generally alternate) or both basal (often in rosettes) and cauline (alternate, linear to oblanceolate)
Inflorescence: raceme or spike, coiled in bud, generally elongate in fruit; bracts 0many; pedicels generally 01 mm
Flower bisexual; sepals fused below middle, 210 mm in fruit; corolla 112 mm wide, all white or yellow inside tube
Fruit: nutlets generally 4, 13.5 mm; back generally with midrib, lateral ribs, cross-ribs, interspaces, generally tubercled, sometimes prickled or bristled; scar generally lateral (on side) near middle or base, sometimes basal (on bottom) or oblique (between side and bottom), sometimes on a stalk or short peg, generally ovate to triangular
Species in genus: ± 65 species: temp w North America, w South America
Etymology: (Greek: sideways pit, from position of nutlet attachment scar)
Reference: [Higgins 1974 Great Basin Natur 34(2):161166; Johnson 1932 Contr Arnold Abroretum 3:1102]
Fully mature nutlets critical for identification; intergradation common in some species groups; sect. Allocarya often treated as a separate genus; many species need further study.
Native |
Annual; hairs spreading, rough, sharp; sap purple
Stem ± erect, 27 dm
Leaves: basal in rosette, 310 cm; cauline few, alternate
Inflorescence bracted near base
Flower: calyx 23 mm, often circumscissile in fruit; corolla 39 mm wide
Fruit: nutlets generally 13, ± 2 mm, round-ovoid, abruptly narrowed below acute tip, slightly arched in profile, sometimes strongly attached; midrib, lateral ribs, cross-ribs narrow; interspaces wide; scar lateral near middle, round
Chromosomes: 2n=24
Ecology: Abundant. Grasslands, woodlands
Elevation: generally < 800 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province, rarely edge of Desert
Distribution outside California: to Washington, Mexico
Flowering time: MarMay
Intergrades with P. arizonicus , P. canescens
Horticultural information: TRY.