Floerkea

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids II
Ordo: Brassicales

Familia: Limnanthaceae
Genus: Floerkea
Species:
F. proserpinacoides Name

Floerkea Willd.

Floerkea is a monotypic genus of plants in the meadowfoam family containing the sole species Floerkea proserpinacoides, which is known by the common names false mermaid, false mermaidweed, and floerkea. This tiny wildflower is native to many parts of North America, where it is found in moist areas such as shady forests. It is a fleshy, annual herb which grows short stems which may lie flat on the ground, tangle into a clump, or grow somewhat erect. The foliage is hairless and shiny. The leaves are divided into many oval-shaped, pointed leaflets up to 2 cm (0.79 in) long. The flower is a cup of pointed green sepals containing three tiny white spoon-shaped petals and a bunch of stamens with yellow anthers. Growing in the center of the flower are the two to three fruits, which are bumpy, spherical nutlets.[1][2]

The logo for the Flora of North America is a Floerkea flower.[3] The genus was named in honor of the German botanist, Heinrich Gustav Flörke.

References

Jepson Manual Treatment
USDA Plants Profile
Flora of North America Editorial Committee, ed. (2010). Flora of North America. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press.