Floerkea
Encyclopedia
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 two centimeters long. The flower is a cup of pointed green sepal
s containing three tiny white spoon-shaped petals and a bunch of stamen
s with yellow anthers. Growing in the center of the flower are the two to three fruits, which are bumpy, spherical nutlets.
Limnanthaceae
Limnanthaceae are a small family of annual herbs occurring throughout temperate North America. There are eight species and nineteen taxa currently recognized. Members of this family are prominent in vernal pool communities of California. Some taxa have been domesticated for use as an oil seed crop...
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 two centimeters long. The flower is a cup of pointed green sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s containing three tiny white spoon-shaped petals and a bunch of stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s with yellow anthers. Growing in the center of the flower are the two to three fruits, which are bumpy, spherical nutlets.