Bilateral, 5 Petals, Very Non-Radial   Return to SDWildflowers page 

• Bignoniaceae (Bignonia Family)

  -- Chilopsis linearis ssp. arcuata (Desert Willow) --  -- Tree found in sandy washes  --  --



• Campanulaceae (Bellflower Family)

  -- Downingia shown here -- Found on margins of drying Vernal Pools throughout California in the spring. -- Lobelia similar but blooms in summer in wet areas at higher elevations --  -- Some members of this Family are Radial.



• Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)

  -- Lonicera (Honeysuckle) -- Native species are twining or trailing shrubs (similar to vines) usually found amid branches of other shrubs. -- Flower stems very short, attached in whorls -- Stamens, Style & Stigma exserted (stick out) --  -- Some members of this Family are Radial.



• Krameriaceae (Rhatany Family)

  -- Krameria (Rhatany) --  -- Bush that favors dry slopes in the desert --



• Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

-- Salvia (Sage) -- San Diego County-wide -- Flower 2-lipped -- Upper lip 2 fused Petals, lower 3 fused Petals -- Style forked at tip -- Stamens often exserted

-- Pogogyne & Acanthomintha (Mint) -- Found in drying Vernal Pools in the spring. -- Endangered by urban development. -- Low-growing plants with tiny to small flowers --

-- Others: Coast Range to Mountains --   Marrubium (Horehound) --   Trichostema (Bluecurls) --  --  See leaf & whole-plant photos for ID help

-- Others: Desert --   Hyptis (Desert Lavender) - bush with gray foliage. --  --  --  See leaf & whole-plant photos for ID help



• Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family) - May have Regular Shape

-- Delphinium Spur on the uppermost Sepal. -- 5 Petal-like Sepals, 4 smaller Petals -- Leaves Simple and Palmately Lobed (like webbed fingers)  -- 10 to many Stamens, 3 to 5 Pistils -- See also Clematis under and Ranunculus

 

• Scrophulariaceae - Recently re-classified (based on genetic clues)
  • Orobanchaceae (Broom-rape Family)

    Cordylanthus (Bird's-Beak), Castilleja (Paintbrush), Orthocarpus (Owl's Clover), Pedicularis (Lousewort), Triphysaria (Butter & Eggs) -- Though listed with Scrophulariaceae in older guidebooks, the Petals & Sepals are hard to recognize in these flowers. See Petals Absent, Not Apparent, or Hard to Count for Orobanchaceae Family

  • Phrymaceae (Mimulus or Monkey-flower Family)

    -- Mimulus (Monkey-flower) --  --  --  --  See leaf & whole-plant photos for ID help

  • Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

    -- Scrophularia (Bee Plant) -- Tall spindly bush -- Tiny inconspicuous flowers --  --

    Whole-Plant photo goes here.

  • Plantaginaceae (Plantain Family) - Obsolete Family: Veronicaceae

    -- Antirrhinum (Snapdragon) -- Bush or climbing vine, 4 San Diego Species --  -- Linarea (Toadflax) -- Small flowers on erect 1 to 2 ft stem -- Occasional in burns, disturbed areas -- Coast & foothills below 3500 ft.

    -- Keckiella   (Bush Penstemon) and -- Penstemon   (Beardtongue) --  -- 14 Species in S.D. County. See details.

    -- Collinsia (Blue-eyed Mary, Chinese Houses) --  Blue-eyed Mary, 2 Species in moist shady areas above 2500 ft. --  -- Chinese Houses, 2 Species, coast to mountains, grassy slopes & meadows, shady areas below 4000 ft.

    -- Veronica (Speedwell aka Brook-lime) -- Tiny flowers (3 mm +/-) -- Common April to August, wet places coast to mountains. -- Foliage hairy --



• Acanthaceae (Acanthus Family)

  -- Justicia (Chuparosa) --   Note similarity to Penstemon, Galvezia above --   Common desert bush below 2500 ft. --   --



• Verbenaceae (Vervain Family)

  -- Phyla nodiflora (Garden Lippia) --  Non-native from South America, May - Oct. --  (Native P.lanceolata is Rare, Lake Hodges, Sept) --  -- Verbena lasiostachys (Western Vervain) --  Flowers at tip of spikes 1 to 2 ft high --