ARS | Publication request: Myosurus

Submitted to: Jepson Manual of the Higher Plants of California, Ed. 2.
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: September 30, 2009
Publication Date: January 31, 2012
Citation: Whittemore, A.T. 2012. Myosurus. Jepson Manual of the Higher Plants of California, Ed. 2. pp. 1142-1144.

Interpretive Summary: This contribution will form a section of The Jepson Manual of the higher plants of California, a manual published by the University of California to provide up-to date information on the taxonomy, distribution, and ecological status of all plants that are wild or invasive in California, together with a guide for identification, aimed at professional and sophisticated amateur users. The taxonomy, distribution, and ecological status of all species of Myosurus that are wild or subject to escape in California is reevaluated, based primarily on a thorough reexamination of available herbarium specimens, and a guide for identification is supplied. Four species in the genus are included. The genus is closely related to the economically important genus Ranunculus, and one of the native Myosurus species is of conservation concern (M. sessilis, considered to be globally imperiled). This contribution provides up-to-date information on the biology of this group of species, along with identification aids. It will support accurate identification of these species. It will be used by professional land managers, educators, conservationists, and sophisticated amateur botanists and horticulturalists, insuring that work on land management and conservation will be based on full, accurate and up-to-date information about the basic biology and relationships of these organisms.

Technical Abstract: The genus Myosurus is treated for The Jepson Manual of the higher plants of California, a detailed floristic manual for the state published by the University of California. Four species are recognized; full morphological descriptions, dichotomous keys, and brief summaries of geographical and ecological distribution, and taxonomic notes are given for each of them. The genus is closely related to the economically important genus Ranunculus, and one of the species is of conservation concern. This contribution will support accurate identification of these plants.