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FOC | Family List | FOC Vol. 6 | Caryophyllaceae

10. Stellaria Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 421. 1753.

繁缕属 fan lu shu

Chen Shilong; Richard K. Rabeler

Fimbripetalum (Turczaninow) Ikonnikov; Mesostemma Vvedensky.

Herbs annual, biennial, or perennial. Roots or rhizomes filiform and slender, roots sometimes robust, fleshy. Stems erect, ascending, or prostrate. Leaves compressed, variously shaped, rarely needlelike; stipules absent. Flowers terminal, seldom only axillary, in cymes or solitary, small; bracts immediately subtending calyx absent. Sepals (4 or)5. Petals (4 or)5, white, rarely green, usually 2-cleft nearly to base, rarely retuse or multilobed, sometimes absent. Stamens 2--5 or (6--)10. Ovary 1-loculed, rarely 3-loculed when young; ovules numerous, rarely several and only 1 or 2 mature; styles (2 or)3(or 4). Capsule orbicular or ovoid, opening by valves (1 or)2 × number of styles. Seeds (1 to) numerous, reniform, slightly compressed, tuberculate or smooth; embryo curved.

About 190 species: mainly in temperate and cold regions; 64 species (28 endemic) in China.


1 Petals 5--7-cleft, longer than sepals   58 S. radians
+ Petals 2-cleft either apically or often to base, longer or shorter than sepals, seldom absent.   (2)
       
2 (1) Styles 2(or 3) or 4; capsules 4(or 6)-valved.   (3)
+ Styles usually 3; capsules usually 6-valved.   (7)
       
3 (2) Styles 4.   (4)
+ Styles 2(or 3).   (5)
       
4 (3) Sepals rounded apically   64 S. strongylosepala
+ Sepals long acuminate apically   45 S. oxycoccoides
       
5 (3) Petals and sepals 4; stamens 8; petals ca. 1.5 × as long as sepals; styles 2   59 S. martjanovii
+ Petals and sepals 5; stamens 10; petals shorter than the sepals; styles 2(or 3).   (6)
       
6 (5) Stems 0.1--0.3 m, tufted; leaves oblong-lanceolate, 0.1--0.2 cm   63 S. bistyla
+ Stems 1--2 m, diffuse; leaves ovate-lanceolate, (2--)3--10 cm   61 S. ovatifolia
       
7 (2) Seeds 1--3(--8), ovules few or many; capsules shorter than sepals, often globose; stamens (5--)8--10.   (8)
+ Seeds and ovules many (rarely few); capsules usually subequaling or longer than sepals, often ovoid; stamens (2--)10, hypogynous or perigynous.   (19)
       
8 (7) Stems 15--20 cm tall, not tufted; inflorescence bracts absent; petals ca. 2 × as long as sepals   25 S. ebracteata
+ Stems 2--200 cm, tufted if less than 30 cm; inflorescence bracts present; petals shorter than sepals or absent.   (9)
       
9 (8) Stems 50--200 cm, diffuse; leaves lanceolate to oblong- or ovate-lanceolate, (2--)3--11(--23) cm; young ovary 3-loculed, with 3 or 4 ovules.   (10)
+ Stems 2--30(--60) cm, tufted, plants often cushionlike; leaves linear or ovate, 0.3--3.5 cm; ovary 1-loculed, ovules many.   (12)
       
10 (9) Stamens 5; capsule with 2 or 3 mature seeds; petals subequaling sepals   62 S. delavayi
+ Stamens 5 or 10; capsule with 1 mature seed; petals shorter than sepals.   (11)
       
11 (10) Plants glandular hairy; leaves lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, base rounded, semiclasping; petals ca. 2/3 as long as sepals   60 S. monosperma
+ Plants pubescent with curved hairs; leaves ovate-lanceolate, base narrowed into petiole; petals minute, ca. 1/3 as long as sepals   61 S. ovatifolia
       
12 (9) Petals 2-cleft to middle; plants glandular hairy; stamens 10.   (13)
+ Petals 2-cleft nearly to base or absent; plants densely cushionlike, glabrous or pubescent or woolly; stamens 5 or (8--)10.   (14)
       
13 (12) Sepals lanceolate, apex acuminate, margin narrowly membranous; stems terete   22 S. dichotoma
+ Sepals oblong, apex obtuse, margin broadly membranous; stems quadrangular   23 S. amblyosepala
       
14 (12) Petals subequaling sepals; stamens 5   12 S. petiolaris
+ Petals shorter than sepals or absent; stamens (8--)10.   (15)
       
15 (14) Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 3--6 mm.   (16)
+ Leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, 4--20(--25) mm.   (17)
       
16 (15) Plants 5--7 cm tall; stems glabrous basally, pubescent apically   53 S. arenarioides
+ Plants 10--20 cm tall; stems densely white pubescent, rarely glabrous   56 S. decumbens
       
17 (15) Stems glabrous   55 S. petraea
+ Stems pubescent, either with curved hairs or white pilose apically.   (18)
       
18 (17) Stems pubescent with curved hairs; flowers few in loose cymes   54 S. cherleriae
+ Stem white lanate apically; flowers many in dense cymes   57 S. congestiflora
       
19 (7) Sepals distinct; stamens hypogynous or perigynous.   (20)
+ Sepals connate at base into obconic calyx; stamens perigynous.   (41)
       
20 (19) Leaves linear-lanceolate; petals ca. 1.5 × as long as sepals   24 S. henryi
+ Leaves broader, usually ovate or ovate-lanceolate; petals of varying lengths.   (21)
       
21 (20) Leaves sessile or subsessile, base sometimes slightly clasping.   (22)
+ All leaves or only leaves of lower stems petiolate.   (29)
       
22 (21) Plants glabrous   17 S. gyirongensis
+ Plants hairy.   (23)
       
23 (22) Plants stellate hairy   16 S. infracta
+ Plants pubescent, hairs not stellate.   (24)
       
24 (23) Plants pubescent, hairs short, not dense; abaxial leaf midvein prominent.   (25)
+ Plants glandular hairy, woolly, or hairs long filiform; abaxial leaf midvein prominent or not.   (26)
       
25 (24) Leaves with inconspicuous reticulate abaxial veins, only basal margin ciliate; sepals 2--2.5 mm   14 S. omeiensis
+ Leaves with conspicuous reticulate abaxial veins, margin ciliate; sepals ca. 2.5 mm   15 S. reticulivena
       
26 (24) Plants densely glandular hairy.   (27)
+ Plants woolly or with long hairs.   (28)
       
27 (26) Leaves ovate, 5--15 mm, margin ciliate; petals 2-cleft to base; seeds rugulose   18 S. zangnanensis
+ Leaves oblong, 12--18 mm, margin not ciliate; petals 2-cleft to middle; seeds tuberculate   19 S. tibetica
       
28 (26) Plants densely white woolly; petals shorter than sepals; stamens 8; capsules ca. 2 × as long as persistent sepals   20 S. lanata
+ Plants long filiform hairy; petals nearly as long as sepals; stamens 10; capsules shorter than persistent sepals   21 S. patens
       
29 (21) Cymes with few flowers or flower solitary and axillary; petals slightly longer than sepals, 2-cleft to base or 2-lobed.   (30)
+ Cymes usually with numerous flowers; petals shorter than or subequaling sepals, sometimes very small or absent.   (34)
       
30 (29) Stems glabrous; petals apically 2-cleft only to 1/3; flowers of 2 types: lower axillary flowers lacking stamens (and petals)   5 S. wushanensis
+ Stems hairy; petals 2-lobed or 2-cleft to base; flowers uniform.   (31)
       
31 (30) Stems glandular hairy; leaves ovate or ovate-oblong, 2--8 cm.   (32)
+ Stem hairs not glandular; leaves ovate to rhombic, 0.5--1.5 cm.   (33)
       
32 (31) Capsule slightly longer than sepals; stem with 1 line of multicellular glandular hairs; sepals ovate-oblong to ovate-lanceolate, apex obtuse   1 S. bungeana var. stubendorfii
+ Capsule 1.5--2 × as long as sepals; stem sparsely glandular hairy; sepals lanceolate, apex acute   2 S. nemorum
       
33 (31) Stems with appressed hairs; leaves ovate, apex obtuse, base rounded, shortly petiolate or sessile; petals 2-cleft nearly to base   3 S. nepalensis
+ Stems sparsely stiffly hairy; leaves rhombic or triangular-ovate, apex acuminate, base rounded or nearly cordate; petals 2-lobed   4 S. arisanensis
       
34 (29) Plants with 1(or 2) lines of hairs on stems or basal margin of leaves and nodes, not pilose or stellate hairy.   (35)
+ Plants stellate hairy or pilose, rarely glabrous.   (37)
       
35 (34) Petals absent or very small; stamens 3--5; seeds 0.7--0.8 mm in diam., with tiny protuberances   8 S. pallida
+ Petals present, shorter than or subequaling sepals; stamens 3--10; seeds ca. 1 mm or more in diam., with conic or semiglobose protuberances.   (36)
       
36 (35) Stems somewhat stout, 30--80 cm tall; petals subequaling sepals; stamens (6--)8--10; seeds ca. 1.5 mm in diam., with conic protuberances   6 S. neglecta
+ Stems slender, 10--30 cm tall; petals shorter than or subequaling sepals; stamens 3--5; seeds 1--1.2 mm in diam., with semiglobose protuberances   7 S. media
       
37 (34) Plants stellate hairy   9 S. vestita
+ Plants pilose or only petioles pilose, rarely glabrous.   (38)
       
38 (37) Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate, glabrous on both surfaces, sometimes reddish green   10 S. chinensis
+ Leaves narrowly ovate to oblong-lanceolate, white hairy on both surfaces, rarely glabrous.   (39)
       
39 (38) Petals absent; leaves lanceolate to linear-lanceolate   13 S. lanipes
+ Petals present; leaves oblong-lanceolate to narrowly ovate.   (40)
       
40 (39) Leaves oblong-lanceolate, 2.5--4 cm; petals slightly shorter than sepals; stamens 10   11 S. pilosoides
+ Leaves narrowly ovate, 1.5--2.5 cm; petals subequaling sepals; stamens 5   12 S. petiolaris
       
41 (19) Flowers solitary, axillary or terminal; bracts herbaceous, without membranous margin; pedicels filiform, curved after anthesis; stems glabrous.   (42)
+ Flowers in cymes or umbels, rarely solitary; bracts all herbaceous or with membranous margin; pedicels not filiform; stems glabrous or not.   (43)
       
42 (41) Plants usually less than 5 cm tall; stamens subequaling petals   26 S. winkleri
+ Plants 5--14 cm; stamens shorter than petals   27 S. crassifolia
       
43 (41) Flowers in cymose umbels; petals absent or small.   (44)
+ Flowers in dichotomous cymes, rarely solitary; petals present (rarely absent), usually conspicuous.   (47)
       
44 (43) Petals small; inflorescence compact; stems less than 5 cm tall   49 S. irrigua
+ Petals absent; inflorescence loose; stems 5--20 cm tall.   (45)
       
45 (44) Stems pilose; leaves ovate-lanceolate to ovate   50 S. parviumbellata
+ Stems glabrous; leaves elliptic or linear to linear-lanceolate.   (46)
       
46 (45) Stems tufted; leaves linear to linear-lanceolate; stamens 5   52 S. subumbellata
+ Stems solitary; leaves elliptic; stamens 10   51 S. umbellata
       
47 (43) Leaves lanceolate to narrowly ovate, base semiclasping.   (48)
+ Leaves narrower, linear to linear-lanceolate; base semiclasping or not.   (53)
       
48 (47) Plants glabrous; leaves lanceolate.   (49)
+ Plants pubescent; leaves lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate.   (51)
       
49 (48) Leaf margin herbaceous; stamens 10   28 S. discolor
+ Leaf margin cartilaginous, crisp; stamens 5(--10).   (50)
       
50 (49) Leaves (2--)5--20 mm; stamens 5(--10)   33 S. alsine
+ Leaves 30--60 mm; stamens 10   38 S. salicifolia
       
51 (48) Leaves lanceolate or narrowly ovate, 4--12 mm, base narrowed; inflorescences with 1--3 flowers   30 S. pusilla
+ Leaves ovate-lanceolate, 3--10 mm; inflorescences with numerous flowers.   (52)
       
52 (51) Leaf apex acute; stems with retrorse hairs; petals slightly longer than sepals; pedicel 5--30 mm, longer than sepals   31 S. mainlingensis
+ Leaf apex obtuse; stems minutely pubescent; petals shorter than sepals (rarely absent); pedicel 3--4 mm, subequaling sepals   32 S. depressa
       
53 (47) Flower solitary; mature capsule black   48 S. soongorica
+ Inflorescences with numerous flowers; mature capsule yellow.   (54)
       
54 (53) Stems pubescent.   (55)
+ Stems glabrous or nearly so.   (59)
       
55 (54) Stems pubescent, hairs retrorse   44 S. alaschanica
+ Stem pubescence not retrorse.   (56)
       
56 (55) Stems not tufted.   (57)
+ Stems tufted.   (58)
       
57 (56) Stems minutely pubescent; leaves linear, sickle-shaped   29 S. gyangtseensis
+ Stems with 2 lines of hairs; leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, not sickle-shaped   34 S. graminea
       
58 (56) Stems densely tufted, 5--15 cm tall, with one line of recurved hairs; petals ca. 2/3 as long as sepals   46 S. uda
+ Stems sparsely tufted, 20--30 cm tall, sparsely hairy; petals slightly shorter than or subequaling sepals   47 S. souliei
       
59 (54) Petals 1/2--2/3 as long as the sepals; leaves lanceolate, 1--2 cm   35 S. brachypetala
+ Petals slightly shorter than to 2 × as long as sepals; leaves linear to lanceolate.   (60)
       
60 (59) Abaxial midvein of leaf blade inconspicuous, not raised.   (61)
+ Abaxial midvein of leaf blade conspicuously raised.   (63)
       
61 (60) Leaves oblong-lanceolate, ca. 1 cm, apex obtuse, margin glabrous; flowers 1 or 2; petals slightly longer than sepals   41 S. imbricata
+ Leaves linear to lanceolate, 0.5--7 cm, apex acute, margin usually ciliate; flowers numerous; petals slightly shorter to longer than sepals.   (62)
       
62 (61) Leaves 0.5--4 cm, margin ciliate at base; seeds black-brown, granulose   34 S. graminea
+ Leaves 3--5(--7) cm, margin ciliate; seeds brown, sparsely tuberculate   36 S. yunnanensis
       
63 (60) Stems rough; leaf margin finely papillate roughened, rarely sparsely ciliate.   (64)
+ Stems smooth; leaf margin often ciliate, especially near base of blade.   (65)
       
64 (63) Sepals ca. 3 mm or less at anthesis, apex obtuse, veins inconspicuous; mature capsule black-brown; seeds smooth   40 S. longifolia
+ Sepals (4--)5 mm or more at anthesis, apex acuminate, veins conspicuous; mature capsule yellowish; seeds rugulose   37 S. palustris
       
65 (63) Pedicels ca. 15 mm or less; sepals 6--7 mm; petals shorter than sepals   39 S. dianthifolia
+ Pedicels ca. 14 mm or longer; sepals 4--5.5 mm; petals subequaling to 2 × as long as sepals.   (66)
       
66 (65) Seeds orbicular-reniform, tuberculate; petals 1.5--2 × as long as sepals   42 S. nipponica
+ Seeds ellipsoid, rugulose; petals subequaling to 1.5 × as long as sepals   43 S. filicaulis

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