5 Petals, ± Separated, Radial   Return to SDWildflowers page 

• 2 Sepals

  Portulacaceae (Purslane Family) -- Foliage fleshy -- Generally 5 Petals (more in Lewisia) -- Style or Stigma has 3 branches (more in Lewisia) -- Ovary partly inferior, partly superior

• More than 2 Sepals
  • 5 to 10 Stamens, Free from each other
    • Herbs

      Convolvulaceae (Morning Glory Family) Cressa truxillensis (Alkali Weed) -- Tiny flowers on many-branched low canes -- Common in margins of coastal estuaries and lakes below 700 ft elevation.

      Geraniaceae (Geranium Family) -- Most in San Diego are introduced -- 5 Stigmas on axis of 5 Styles -- Usually seen as low growing weed -- Occasionally ascends to 3 ft high

    • Shrubs in San Diego County

      Zygophyllaceae (Caltrop Family) -- Desert plants -- Ovary superior --  --

  • 5 to 15 Stamens on a branching column (Staminate Flowers)

    Ditaxis (Desert Silverbush) -- Unusual member of Euphorbiaceae Family -- 5 Sepals and 5 Petals -- Pistillate flowers  have 3 2-lobed Styles -- Stems fleshy and hairy

    Sterculiaceae (Cacao Family)  Fremontodendron (Fremontia aka Flannelbush) -- Flowers Bisexual -- 5 Stamens -- Occurs infrequently in shaded canyons of foothills -- Shrub or small tree

  • Stamens numerous,
    • Stamens  fused into a column

      Malvaceae (Mallow Family) -- Shrub to low-growing Herb -- Leaves alternate and simple -- Leaves on petioles (leaf stems) -- 5 Sepals

    • Stamens united at bases into bunches

      Hypericaceae (St. John's Wort Family) -- Leaves Cauline (i.e. mainly sprout from stems) -- Leaves Simple, Opposite, Clasping (more or less) -- 5 Sepals -- 3 Style branches --

    • Stamens completely individual to base

      Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family) -- Ranunculus (Buttercup) -- Leaves both Basal & Cauline, 3 to 9 Leaflets on a Leaf -- 5 Sepals, 5 Petals longer than Sepals -- Usually shiny yellow or white -- See also Delphinium and Clematis

      Rosaceae (Rose Family) -- Rosa (Wild Rose) -- Potentilla (Cinquefoil) --

    • Stamens free, Stigma hemispheric

      Cistaceae (Rock-Rose Family) -- Cistus (Rock-Rose) -- Helianthemum (Sun-Rose) -- 5 Sepals, outer 2 often narrower

• 5 Petal-like Sepals

  Aizoaceae (Carpetweed Family) -- Sesuvium verrucosum (Western Sea Purslane) --  -- 5 Petal-like Sepals No true Petals -- Leaves fleshy -- Many Stamens -- 2 to 5 Styles

• 3 to 5 Petals & Sepals  - Typically 5
  • Leaves & stems fleshy (i.e. succulent)

    Crassulaceae (Stonecrop Family) -- 5 or 10 Stamens -- Stamens free or attached to Petals -- Petals may form an elongated urn shape -- Petals may be fused --

    Frankeniaceae (Frankenia Family)  Frankenia salina  (Alkali Heath) -- 4 to 7 Sepals and Petals --  -- Found in salt marshes, alkali flats, etc. -- Leaves leathery & fleshy, may also be hairy -- Flower diameter about 1/4 inch.

  • Leaves & stems not fleshy
    • Leaves either alternate or opposite Polemoniaceae (Phlox Family)

      -- Large Family - many Genera e.g.: Gilia, Linanthus, Ipomopsis, ... -- 5 Stamens, usually appear attached to Petals above base of Corolla tube, Pollen on Anthers often colored. -- Flwr typically dime to penny size.

    • Leaves alternate

      Linaceae (Flax Family) -- Slender stemmed plants -- Leaves short & thread-like -- 5 Stamens alternate to Petals -- 5 Linear Styles in Linum (Flax)

      Oxalidaceae (Oxalis Family) Oxalis (Wood-Sorrel)     -- Oxalis albicans is native, on shaded slopes coastal & foothill below about 1500 ft elevation. Mar - Nov.    -- O. pes-caprae & O. corniculata - Very similar (see photos) invasive weeds from Europe & S. Africa.

      Saxifragaceae (SaxifrageFamily) -- Lithophragma affine (Woodland Star) --  -- Grows on open grassy slopes

    • Leaves opposite or whorled

      Caryophyllaceae (Pink Family) -- Leaves simple, generally opposite -- 5 Sepals, free or fused into a tube -- Petals often notched or deeply divided -- Stamens 10 or fewer -- 2 to 5 Styles, or 2-3 branched Stigma -- Stellaria media non-native (Eurasia)