Key to Valerianaceae

View taxon page for Valerianaceae

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

1. Perennial herb; 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.

rolled inward, 

plumose 

Plume-like, usually with the parts arrayed in three dimensions around an axis, or in tufts held together at the base; usually pertaining to small, finely divided structures, such as certain stigmas and pappus elements.

in age, pappus-like in fruit

2. Corolla generally ± purple-red, spur 4–6 mm; stamen 1; cauline leaves 

entire 

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

, base occasionally with small lobes ..... CENTRANTHUS

2' Corolla white to pink, throat swollen at base, spur 0; stamens 3; cauline leaves pinnately lobed to compound ..... VALERIANA

1' Annual; calyx generally 0

3. Stem 

simple 

Composed of a single part; undivided; unbranched.

or unequally few-branched; corolla generally spurred; ovary 1-chambered ..... PLECTRITIS

3' Stem equally, repeatedly 

forked 

Pertaining to a hair or other structure that branches into two parts.

; corolla throat ± swollen at base, spur 0; ovary(2)3-chambered ..... VALERIANELLA

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