4 Petals (or 4 Sepals that look like Petals) Return to SDWildflowers page 

• Ovary Superior
  • Petals Free from each other
    • Leaves & Stems Succulent

      Crassulaceae (Stonecrop Family) - 5 Petals typical -- 5 or 10 Stamens -- Petals may form an elongated urn shape -- Petals may be fused -- Ovary segments barely adhere to each other

      
      
    • Leaves & Stems not Succulent
      • Sepals 2

        Papaveraceae (Poppy Family) - May have 6 Petals -- Flower Regular-shaped -- Stamens numerous -- Milky sap
        Fumariaceae (Bleeding Heart Family) -- Flower Irregular-shaped and flattened -- Stamens 4 or 6	No Photo Available

        
        
      • Sepals 4, Petals in a Maltese Cross

        Brassicaceae (Mustard Family) -- Leaves various, not palmately compound -- Leaves alternate -- Stamens 6 (2 attached at lower level) -- Seedpod is a silique (unique to this family)

        Capparaceae (Caper Family) -- Leaves usually palmately compound -- Ovary banana-like with long thin pedicel-like base attached to long pedicel -- Skunk-like odor when handled
        Rutaceae (Rue or Citrus Family) Cneodorum dumosum (Bush-Rue) -- 4 Sepals, 4 (occasionally 5) Petals -- 8 Stamens (longest opposite Sepals) -- Common bush in coastal scrub & chaparral -- Leaves oppposite & simple. -- Stems intricately branched.

        
        
  • Petals Fused at least near the base
    • Flowers green, red, or blue
      • Stamens alternate with Petals, Corolla not constricted

        Gentianaceae (Gentian Family) - May have 5 Petals -- 4 or 5 Sepals, united -- 4 or 5 Petals, fused at base forming a bowl or vase -- 4 or 5 Stamens, fused to Corolla wall -- Stamens alternate with Petals Swertia parryi (Deer's Ears).

        
        
      • Stamens opposite Petal lobes (often long and protruding), Corolla constricted near base.

        Nyctaginaceae (Four O'Clock Family) -- 4 or 5-Petal lobes (or 3 in Allionia) -- Flowers in Umbels or solitary -- Leafy Bracts below Umbel -- Bracts free or fused into Calyx-like cups -- Corolla funnel-like (actually colored Sepals)

         
    • Flowers papery brown, in spikes

      Plantaginaceae (Plantain Family) -- Flowers in a dense thumb-like spike -- Leafless stalk -- Leaves in basal rosette

      
      
• Ovary Inferior or hard to see without dissecting the flower.
  • Grossulariaceae (Gooseberry Family)

    Ribes speciosum (Fuchsia-flowered Gooseberry) -- Unusual in this Family with 4 Sepals and 4 (hard to count) Petals -- Common chaparral shrub -- Long Exserted Styles & Stamens -- Stem Nodes have Spines

  • Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family)

    Camissonia, Clarkia, Oenothera -- Flower parts in 4's, free -- Long slender ovary -- 1 Style -- Stigma 4-branched cross or bulblike

  • Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn Family)

    Rhamnus ilicifolia (Holly-leaf Redberry) -- 4 Sepals, no Petals -- 4 Stamens alternate with Sepals -- Spiny leaves -- Common bush in chaparral -- Other members of this Family have 5 Petals

  • Rubiaceae (Madder or Coffee Family)

    Galium (Bedstraw) -- 4 minute Sepals -- Petals in a tiny cross -- 4 Stamens alternate with Petals -- Stems square and rough prickled -- Leaves in whorls or pairs

  • Tamaricaceae (Tamarisk Family)

    Tamarix parviflora (Tamarisk, Salt-Cedar) -- 4 Sepals, 4 Petals, 4 Stamens per flower -- Invasive native of Southern Europe -- Common in moist, alkaline areas of San Diego --  -- T. gallica has 5 Sepals etc, but is less common