Contemporary Circumscription Compared with A Utah Flora 4th ed.

Bio430

Polygonaceae

No differences.

Key Features

The most outstanding feature is the ocrea, a membranous, sheathing stipule that encircles the stem (but this feature is missing in Erigonum).  Flowers are small, papery, and have either 5 or 6 tepals.  They may be perfect or imperfect.

Rumex
Rumex
Rumex - young leaves with ocreas
Rumex - young leaves with ocreas
Rumex
Rumex
Rumex, mature, dry inflorescence
Rumex, mature, dry inflorescence
Rumex - removing 2 of 3 large tepals to reveal fruit, fruit showing deflexed styles/stigmas
Rumex - removing 2 of 3 large tepals to reveal fruit, fruit showing deflexed styles/stigmas
Polygonum aviculare - this plant grows prostrate against the ground
Polygonum aviculare - this plant grows prostrate against the ground
Polygonum aviculare - tiny flowers are typical for the family
Polygonum aviculare - tiny flowers are typical for the family
Polygonum aviculare
Polygonum aviculare
Polygonum douglasii
Polygonum douglasii
Polygonum amphibium
Polygonum amphibium
Polygonum amphibium - ocreas
Polygonum amphibium - ocreas
Buckwheat - a twining vine that looks a bit like morning glory, but can be easily distinguished by leaves and flowers
Buckwheat - a twining vine that looks a bit like morning glory, but can be easily distinguished by leaves and flowers
Buckwheat
Buckwheat
N17_4635_mod21.jpg
N17_4635_mod21.jpg
Persicaria
Persicaria
Persicaria
Persicaria
Eriogonum thymoides
Eriogonum thymoides
Eriogonum - This genus and its relatives lack an ocrea, but the flowers are similar to other polygonaceae
Eriogonum - This genus and its relatives lack an ocrea, but the flowers are similar to other polygonaceae
Eriogonum - This genus and its relatives lack an ocrea, but the flowers are similar to other polygonaceae
Eriogonum - This genus and its relatives lack an ocrea, but the flowers are similar to other polygonaceae
Eriogonum - if you look closely at open flowers, one whorl of 3 tepals is outside the second whorl...but this can be hard to tell so A Utah Flora describes perianth as a single whorl
Eriogonum - if you look closely at open flowers, one whorl of 3 tepals is outside the second whorl...but this can be hard to tell so A Utah Flora describes perianth as a single whorl
Typical vegetative habit with ochrea, swollen nodes, and zig-zag stems
Typical vegetative habit with ochrea, swollen nodes, and zig-zag stems
Rumex sp. with enlarged inner tepals; these pulled away from triangular achene at top
Rumex sp. with enlarged inner tepals; these pulled away from triangular achene at top
Rumex hastatulus; ocrea pulled downward to make it more apparent
Rumex hastatulus; ocrea pulled downward to make it more apparent
Polygonum amphibium
Polygonum amphibium
Polygonum setaceum
Polygonum setaceum
Polygonum setaceum
Polygonum setaceum
Eriogonum cernum
Eriogonum cernum
Eriogonum cernum
Eriogonum cernum
Rheum (rhubarb). The flower in upper left, just opening, shows nine anthers.
Rheum (rhubarb). The flower in upper left, just opening, shows nine anthers.
Rheum (rhubarb). There are 3 smaller and 3 larger tepals, but a key may refer to a single whorl.
Rheum (rhubarb). There are 3 smaller and 3 larger tepals, but a key may refer to a single whorl.
Rheum (rhubarb). All six tepals and the 3-lobed stigma are clear, but you have to look closely to find the ninth anther, which is attached at lower left but positioned right in middle of stigmas in this photo
Rheum (rhubarb). All six tepals and the 3-lobed stigma are clear, but you have to look closely to find the ninth anther, which is attached at lower left but positioned right in middle of stigmas in this photo
Polyg01.png
Polyg01.png
Polyg02.png
Polyg02.png
Polyg03.png
Polyg03.png
Polyg04.png
Polyg04.png