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.

GNAPHALIUM

CUDWEED, EVERLASTING

G. Ledyard Stebbins

Annual or perennial herb, generally ± woolly or tomentose
Leaves alternate, sessile, entire
Inflorescence: heads disciform, many, small, ± sessile in clusters; involucres ± cylindric to spheric, often bell-shaped when pressed; phyllaries graded in several series, transparent to opaque at tips or scarious ± throughout; receptacle flat, naked
Pistillate flowers many, in several series; corollas very slender, minutely lobed, cream to pale yellow or tip reddish
Disk flowers few; corollas ± cylindric to funnel-shaped, whitish to purplish; anther bases short-tailed; style branches wider at tip, truncate
Fruit < 1 mm, oblong; pappus of many fine bristles, bases sometimes fused
Species in genus: ± 120 species: worldwide
Etymology: (Greek: lock of wool)

Native

G. bicolor Bioletti

Perennial 20–120 cm, sweet- or pungently scented
Stems woody at base, variably branched, densely gray-white-tomentose
Leaves 2–8 cm, (ob)lanceolate, sessile, green and glandular above, gray-white-tomentose below; base widely clasping
Inflorescence dense; involucre 5–6 mm, ovoid to ± bell-shaped; phyllaries white or pale yellow, shiny, tips obtuse to acute, outer glabrous (except loosely tomentose base)
Flowers 25–50 per head; pistillate corollas 3–3.5 mm
Fruit: pappus bristles free
Ecology: Dry slopes, coastal dunes
Elevation: < 600 m.
Bioregional distribution: c&s Sierra Nevada Foothills, Central Coast, South Coast Ranges, South Coast, San Jacinto Mountains, Channel Islands
Distribution outside California: Baja California
Horticultural information: SUN: 4, 5, 15, 16, 17, 24 &IRR: 7, 8, 9, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23; fragrant leaves and stems.