|Jepson Flora Project: Jepson Interchange|
|TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993)||
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Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY
Annual or perennial herb from rhizomes, submersed or emergent, sometimes dioecious or plants with some unisexual flowers
Stem short, erect, ± scapose
Leaves basal or cauline, alternate, generally narrowly cylindric; sheath open, generally liguled
Inflorescence: spike or raceme (terminal) or flowers solitary in axils; bracts 0
Flower: perianth parts generally 6 in 2 whorls (except 01 in Lilaea ), free, greenish; stamens generally 1, 3, or 6, filament short, ± fused to inner perianth parts, anthers elongate, dehiscing outward; pistil 1 (simple) or seemingly so (ovaries 3, 4, or 6, fused to central axis, each with 1 chamber and 1 style), ovule 1 per chamber, style short and plumose or long and thread-like
Fruit: follicle or nutlet
Genera in family: 5 genera, ± 20 species: temp and circumboreal.
Perennial from rhizomes in CA, terrestrial or aquatic
Stem erect, short, obscure
Leaves basal, ± tufted; sheath membranous; ligule entire to 2-lobed
Inflorescence: raceme, scapose, narrowly cylindric, glabrous; pedicels short
Flower bisexual; perianth parts 36, generally green, inner surface concave; stamens (1)36, subsessile, anthers wide; ovaries 3 or 6 (if 6, 3 sometimes sterile), 1-chambered, ± fused to central axis, style short, stigma papillate
Fruit: follicles 36, separating from axis
Seed 1, linear, ± flat or angled
Species in genus: ± 12 species: temp and circumboreal
Etymology: (Greek: 3-pointed, from fruits of some)
TOXIC when fresh from cyanogenic compounds.
Perennial from slender, spreading to ascending rhizomes, 12(4.5) dm
Leaf 520(45) cm, 12 mm wide, flat; ligule 12.5 mm, generally entire, tip rounded to acuminate
Inflorescences generally 12 per plant, 515(32) cm; pedicels 11.5(3.5) mm in fruit, generally ascending
Flower: perianth parts 35, greenish yellow; stamens 12(3), often unequal; ovaries 6, sterile 3 alternate with fertile 3, wing-like and persistent in fruit
Fruits 3 per flower, subspheric, 3-angled, falling from axis
Ecology: Uncommon. Saline or brackish marshes
Elevation: < 10 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast
Distribution outside California: to Washington, e US; also Chile, Australasia
Horticultural information: TRY.