Amsinckia tessellata A. Gray

Family: Boraginaceae


Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)

none

Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)

bristly fiddleneck, tessellate fiddleneck

Primary Disseminule Type

fruit segment

Description (diagnostics are in brown)

Fruit composed of four attached nutlets (each a dry, indehiscent, woody, one-seeded fruit segment), 1–4 of which fully develop and detach from each other at maturity.

Nutlet teardrop-shaped in outline, dorsiventrally compressed, straight in lateral view, cross-section ± oblong, 2.5–4 mm long x 2.3–3 mm wide x ca. 1.4–1.8 mm thick. Surface dull, glabrous, light to dark gray with brown and black splotches, with a prominent longitudinal ridge and a few transverse rounded, low ridges on abaxial face, texture cobblestone-like between ridges.

Nutlet attachment scar on adaxial face, ± diamond-shaped to teardrop-shaped.

Similar Species

Similar Species Comparison Chart

Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)

AUQP, AUWP, NZBORIC, NZBPI