Key to Limonium

View taxon page for Limonium

(For a list of species in Limonium, use the above link.)

Jepson Manual glossary definitions can be seen by moving your cursor over words underlined with dots.

1. Inflorescence branch wings 0

2. Inflorescence with some non-flowering branches; proximal inflorescence axis bracts round, clasping ..... [L. otolepis]

2' Inflorescence non-flowering branches 0; proximal inflorescence axis bracts 

deltate 

More or less equilaterally triangular, with the corners rounded or not.

to 

linear 

Elongate, with nearly parallel sides; narrower than elliptic or oblong.

, not clasping

3. Basal leaves obovate to 

oblong 

Longer than wide, with nearly parallel sides; wider than linear.

, 1.5–6 cm wide ..... L. californicum

3' Basal leaves oblanceolate to spoon-shaped, 0.5–2 cm wide

4. Basal leaves 1–4 cm, 5–9 mm wide, oblanceolate to spoon-shaped, tip 

obtuse 

Having a short-tapered, blunt tip or base, the sides convex or straight and converging at more than a right angle.

; inflorescence clusters 1–3 flowered, ± curved, evenly distributed on terminal 2–3(6) cm of branch tips, 2–4 per cm ..... L. duriusculum

4' Basal leaves 3–10 cm, 7–20 mm wide, obovate to oblanceolate or spoon-shaped, tip 

acute 

Having a short-tapered, sharp tip, the sides convex or straight and converging at less than a right angle.

to rounded; inflorescence clusters 2–5 flowered, crowded in terminal 1–4 cm of branch tips, 4–8 per cm ..... L. ramosissimum

1' Terminal inflorescence branches winged

5. Leaf pinnately lobed at least at base

6. Wings of inflorescence axes 5–20 mm wide; leaf-like bracts 0 at stem branch points ..... [L. brassicifolium]

6' Wings of inflorescence axes <= 5 mm wide; ± linear leaf-like bracts generally present at stem branch points ..... L. sinuatum

5' Leaf ± 

entire 

Having margins that are continuous and smooth (i.e., without teeth, lobes, etc.).

7. Leaf margins 

ciliate 

Having generally straight, conspicuous hairs along margins or edges.

with 

simple 

Composed of a single part; undivided; unbranched.

to 3-branched hairs; 

leaf 

Organ arising from a stem, generally composed of a stalk (petiole) and a flat, expanded, green, photosynthetic area (blade); distinguished from a leaflet by the presence in its axil of a bud, branch, thorn, or flower; sometimes with lateral, basal appendages (stipules); either simple (toothed, lobed, or dissected but not divided into leaflets) or compound (divided into leaflets).

tip long-acuminate, >= 4 mm; proximal flower 

bract 

Reduced, leaf- or scale-like structure subtending a branch, cone scale, peduncle, pedicel, or flower.

awned, distal rounded ..... L. perezii

7' Leaf margins glabrous or with few, simple hairs; leaf tip 

acuminate 

Having a long-tapered, sharp tip, the sides concave.

, < 3 mm; flower bract tips mucronate to rounded

8. Leaf 

blade 

Expanded portion of a leaf, petal, or other structure, generally flat but sometimes rolled, cylindric, wavy, or cupped.

base generally 

cordate 

Heart-shaped; often pertaining to a leaf in which the blade base on both sides of the petiole is rounded and convex.

; flower clusters 2–4, in terminal 0.5 cm of branch tips; calyx sparsely hairy ..... [L. preauxii]

8' Leaf blade base long-tapered; flower clusters 1–4(5), in terminal 1.5 cm of branch tips; calyx glabrous ..... [L. sventenii]

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