TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) previous taxon | next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora.

    THIS PAGE IS NO LONGER UPDATED
    AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY
  • Up-to-date information about California vascular plants is available from the Jepson eFlora.

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.

GUTIERREZIA

SNAKEWEED, MATCHWEED

Meredith A. Lane

Annual to subshrubs, appearing glabrous
Stems single and branching above or branching from base, ascending, < 1.5 m, ± striate, generally fibrous, gummy, minutely scabrous, yellow to tan or gray
Leaves alternate, sometimes in axillary clusters, entire, gland-dotted, sometimes gummy, glabrous or minutely scabrous, dark gray-green
Inflorescence: heads radiate, solitary or in short-peduncled clusters; involucres narrowly to widely obconic; phyllaries in 3–4 series, whitish yellow, tips green; receptacle naked, minutely hairy
Ray flowers 1–13; corollas yellow
Disk flowers 1–13 (in CA species); corollas yellow, club- or narrowly funnel-shaped, lobes short, recurved; style appendages lanceolate
Fruit narrowly obconic, light tan, hairy; hairs appressed, white; pappus of 1–2 series of finely toothed, white or yellowish scales generally 1/2 fruit length (in CA species) or much reduced
Species in genus: 25 species: 10 w North America, 15 South America
Etymology: (Gutierrez, surname of a noble Spanish family)
Reference: [Lane 1985 Syst Bot 10:7–28]
TOXIC to livestock, fresh or dried in hay.

Native

G. microcephala (DC.) A. Gray

STICKY SNAKEWEED

Subshrub 2–6 dm, much-branched, often nearly spheric
Stems brown below, yellow or green above
Leaves linear to thread-like
Inflorescence: heads 1–3-flowered, in groups of 5–6, sessile; involucres generally < 3.2 mm, < 1.2 mm diam, cylindric; phyllaries 4–6 in 2 series
Ray flowers 1–2; corollas 2.1–3.5 mm
Disk flowers 1–2, functionally staminate; corollas 2.2–3.3 mm
Fruit 1–1.5 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=8,16,24,32
Ecology: Grasslands, sand dunes
Elevation: 1800–2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: South Coast, San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, East of Sierra Nevada, Desert
Distribution outside California: to Colorado, c Mexico
Flowering time: Jul–Oct
Horticultural information: DRN, DRY, SUN: 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.

previous taxon | next taxon
bioregional map for GUTIERREZIA%20microcephala being generated
 


Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Gutierrezia microcephala
Retrieve dichotomous key for Gutierrezia
Return to treatment index page
Glossary
University & Jepson Herbaria Home Page | Copyright © by the Regents of the University of California