ASTERACEAE

SUNFLOWER FAMILY

David J. Keil, Family Editor and author, except as specified

Annual to tree
Leaves basal or cauline, alternate to whorled, simple to compound
Inflorescence: 1° inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower, 1–many, generally arrayed in cymes, generally subtended by ± calyx-like involucre; flowers 1–many per head
Flowers bisexual, unisexual, or sterile, ± small, of several types; calyx 0 or modified into pappus of bristles, scales, or awns, which is generally persistent in fruit; corolla radial or bilateral (rarely 0), lobes generally (0)4–5; stamens 4–5, anthers generally fused into cylinder around style, often appendaged at tips, bases, or both, filaments generally free, generally attached to corolla near throat; pistil 1, ovary inferior, 1-chambered, 1-seeded, style 1, branches 2, generally hair-tufted at tip, stigmas 2, generally on inside of style branches
Fruit: achene, cylindric to ovoid, generally deciduous with pappus attached
Genera in family: ± 1300 genera, 21,000 species (largest family of dicots): worldwide. Largest family in CA. Also see tribal key to CA genera: Strother 1997 Madroño 44(1):1–28. See glossary p. 25 for illustrations of general family characteristics.

COREOPSIS

TICKSEED

Annual, perennial herb, shrubs
Stems slender to stout and fleshy
Leaves simple to several times pinnately dissected, basal or cauline, opposite or less commonly alternate, sessile or petioled
Inflorescence: heads radiate, solitary or in few–many-headed cymes; peduncles short to long; involucre hemispheric or bell-shaped; phyllaries in 2 series, outer ± spreading, thick, green, inner thin, membranous; receptacle flat to rounded, chaffy; scales flat, scarious
Ray flowers fertile or sterile; ligules generally yellow, showy
Disk flowers many; corollas 4–5-lobed, yellow; style tips truncate to long-tapered
Fruit: ray and disk achenes alike or different, generally compressed front-to-back, often winged; pappus 0 or of 2 awns or scales
Species in genus: ± 114 species: Am, Africa
Etymology: (Greek: bedbug-like, from fruit)
Reference: [Smith 1984 Sida 10:276–289]

Native

C. calliopsidea (DC.) A. Gray

Annual generally 1–4(6+) dm, glabrous
Stems 1–many, erect, simple or few-branched
Leaves basal and alternate; petiole 1–5 mm; blade 1–5 cm, 1–2-pinnately divided into linear segments 0.5–2 mm wide, grooved above; upper leaves sometimes simple
Inflorescence: heads solitary; involucre bell-shaped; outer phyllaries 4–6, 3–8 mm, triangular-ovate, fused at base; inner phyllaries generally 8, 8–10 mm, ovate, acute, margin narrowly scarious; chaff scales 6–7 mm, lanceolate to oblanceolate, fused to base of disk achene
Ray flowers generally 8, fertile; ligules 10–35 mm, obovate, yellow
Disk flowers 15–50; corollas ± 5 mm, yellow
Fruit: ray achenes 5–6 mm, ovate, tan or brown, glabrous, wing smooth, flat, pappus 0; disk achenes 6–7 mm, linear to oblanceolate, outer face dark brown, shiny, glabrous, inner face covered with white hairs, margin ciliate, hairs 2–3 mm; pappus scales 2.5–5 mm, lanceolate
Chromosomes: 2n=24
Ecology: Deserts, dry grassy areas
Elevation: 200–1100 m.
Bioregional distribution: Inner South Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, w Mojave Desert
Flowering time: Mar–May
Horticultural information: TRY.