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 shrub
Leaves generally simple, generally alternate, generally petioled; stipules 0; blade entire to deeply lobed
Inflorescence various
Flower bisexual; calyx lobes generally 5; corolla ± radial, cylindric to rotate, lobes generally 5; stamens 5, alternate corolla lobes; ovary superior, generally 2-chambered, style 1
Fruit: berry or capsule, 25-chambered
Genera in family: 75 genera, 3000 species: worldwide, especially ± tropical; many alien weeds in CA; many cultivated for food, drugs, or ornamental (potato, tomato, peppers, tobacco, petunia);many TOXIC .
Annual to shrub or vine, often glandular, sometimes prickly
Leaves alternate to subopposite, often unequal, entire to deeply pinnately lobed
Inflorescence: panicle or umbel-like, often 1-sided
Flower: calyx ± bell-shaped; corolla ± rotate, white to purple; anthers free, > filaments, oblong or tapered, opening by 2 pores or short slits near tip; ovary 2-chambered, style 1, stigma head-like
Fruit: berry, generally spheric (or dry, capsule-like)
Seeds many, compressed, generally reniform
Species in genus: ± 1500 species: worldwide, especially tropical Am
Etymology: (Latin: quieting, from narcotic properties)
Reference: [Symon 1981 J Adelaide Bot Gard 4:1367]
Many cultivated for food (including potato, S. tuberosum ), ornamental;many TOXIC .
Introduced |
Perennial < 10 dm, from rhizome, forming colonies, generally prickly, densely scaly-stellate (hair rays fused at center)
Leaf 215 cm, oblong, entire to barely lobed, ± yellowish
Inflorescence raceme-like
Flower: calyx 58 mm, lobes ± = tube; corolla 2030 mm wide, purple or blue; anthers 810 mm, ± equal
Fruit 815 mm diam, orange, often persistent
Seed 2.53 mm
Chromosomes: n=12
Ecology: Common. Dry, disturbed places, fields
Elevation: < 1200 m.
Bioregional distribution: California (except North Coast, Klamath Ranges, Great Basin Floristic Province)
Distribution outside California: to S.America; native to c US, n Mexico
Flowering time: MaySep
Weedy.