Key to Hydrophyllaceae

View taxon page for Hydrophyllaceae

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

1. Calyx 

lobes 

1. A major expansion or bulge, such as on the margin of a leaf, sepal, or petal, or on the surface of an ovary. 2. The free tips of otherwise fused structures, such as sepals or petals; larger than teeth.

not alike, outer 3 

cordate 

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

..... TRICARDIA

1' Calyx lobes alike or not, not cordate

2. Calyx 

sinus 

Usually pertaining to margins of leaves, sepals, petals, or other parts, an indentation between adjacent lobes or teeth

appendages generally present (0 in Pholistoma membranaceum, sometimes 0 in Nemophila pulchella); annual

3. Ovary, fruit hairy, not bristly ..... NEMOPHILA

3' Ovary, fruit bristly-hairy ..... PHOLISTOMA

2' Calyx sinus appendages 0; annual, 

perennial 

Completing life cycle (germination through death) in more than two years or growing seasons, generally non-woody (at least above ground) to woody; includes perennial herbs as well as subshrubs to trees; the abbreviation 'per' only refers to perennial herb, not to the word 'perennial' alone.

 herb

4. Leaves cauline, 

opposite 

1. Arranged in pairs along an axis - e.g., two leaves per node. 2. Occurring in the same rank, directly above or below, as 'stamens opposite petals'. 3. Located directly across from.

..... DRAPERIA

4' Leaves 

basal 

At or near the base of a plant or plant part. Especially said of leaves clustered near the ground or of a placenta confined to the base of an ovary.

or, if cauline, at least some 

alternate 

1. Arranged singly, often spirally, along an axis - e.g., one leaf per node. 2. Occurring in different ranks, appearing to be between, not directly above or below, as 'stamens alternate petals'.

5. Annual

6. Herbage sticky; ovules on both sides of placenta; 1–2 seeds persistent in fruit ..... EUCRYPTA

6' Herbage generally not sticky (except Emmenanthe, some Phacelia species); ovules on 1 side of placenta; seeds not persistent in fruit

7. Flowers ± sub-spreading to pendent; corolla persistent, white, yellow, or pink, in age papery ..... EMMENANTHE

7' Flowers 

spreading 

Oriented more or less perpendicularly to the axis of attachment; often, more or less horizontal.

to 

erect 

Upright; vertically oriented.

; corolla generally deciduous, blue to purple, occasionally persistent, yellow (purple), in age not papery ..... PHACELIA (2)

5' Perennial herb

8. Plant with fleshy-fibrous or tuber-like roots or base bulb-like; style ± 2-lobed

9. Leaves compound to 

simple 

Composed of a single part; undivided; unbranched.

, deep-lobed, sinuses reaching midrib; stamens 

exserted 

Protruding out of surrounding structure(s) (e.g., stamens exserted from corolla).

; seeds 1–3 ..... HYDROPHYLLUM

9' Leaves simple, 

entire 

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

, toothed, or lobed, sinuses not reaching midrib; stamens 

included 

Not protruding out of surrounding structure(s) (e.g., stamens included in corolla).

; seeds many ..... ROMANZOFFIA

8' Plant taprooted, base not bulb-like, tubers 0; style 2-lobed to -branched

10. Inflorescence many-flowered; leaves generally lobed to compound, sometimes entire ..... PHACELIA (2)

10' Inflorescence 1-several-flowered; leaves entire

11. Inflorescence 1-flowered; style tip 2-lobed; seeds many ..... HESPEROCHIRON

11' Inflorescence 1-several-flowered; style cleft ± to base; seeds 2–4 ..... HOWELLANTHUS

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