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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.

LAYIA

Bruce G. Baldwin and Susan J. Bainbridge

Annual, generally ascending to erect, often black-glandular, generally ± purplish or brownish
Leaves alternate, generally linear to (ob)lanceolate, sessile, generally pinnately lobed, reduced upward
Inflorescence: heads generally radiate; involucre obconic to urn-shaped; phyllaries generally folded completely around ray fruit, falling with fruit, generally ± hairy; receptacle flat to slightly convex, chaff scales free, in ring between ray and disk flowers or throughout
Ray flowers (0)3–27; ligules white (often aging pinkish) to yellow, tubes hairy
Disk flowers 5–many; corollas yellow, puberulent; anther tips acute, long-tapered; style branches long, bristly
Fruit generally 2–5 mm, generally club-shaped, black; ray fruit compressed back to front, generally ± glabrous, pappus 0; disk fruit ± straight, generally ± hairy, pappus various
Species in genus: 14 species: w North America
Etymology: (George T. Lay, early 19th century English plant collector)
Reference: [Kyhos et al. 1990 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 77:84–95]

Native

L. leucopappa D.D. Keck

COMANCHE POINT LAYIA

Plant 8–60 cm, straw-colored, glandular
Leaves < 5 cm, oblong to oblanceolate, fleshy, ± glaucous, generally scabrous-ciliate; lower leaves ± lobed
Inflorescence: peduncles 1–12 cm; involucre ± urn-shaped; phyllaries 3.5–8 mm, basal margins often ± bulged out, interlocked by cottony hairs; chaff scales between ray and disk flowers
Ray flowers 6–15; ligules 3–12 mm, white to cream
Disk flowers 20–100; corollas 2.5–5 mm; anthers yellow
Fruit: disk fruit densely white-hairy, pappus of 10–13 scales, 2–3.5 mm, white, ciliate, base sparsely long-hairy
Chromosomes: 2n=14
Ecology: Open slopes in heavy soil
Elevation: 150–350 m.
Bioregional distribution: w Tehachapi Mountain Area (Kern Co.).Threatened by development.

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