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	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California Print edition is available from the University of California Press

	The second edition of The Jepson Manual (2012) is available from the University of California Press
	See also the Jepson eFlora, which parallels the Second Edition

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.

MICROSERIS

Kenton L. Chambers

Annual or perennial herb, ± mealy (hairs drying as minute white scales); sap milky
Leaves mostly basal, generally linear to (ob)lanceolate, generally variably entire to pinnately lobed
Inflorescence: heads solitary, ligulate, ± nodding in bud; involucre generally fusiform to spheric; phyllaries in 2–several series, outer overlapping, inner often ± black-hairy; receptacle naked
Flowers 5–many; corollas white to orange, often reddish below, ligules = to >> involucre, readily withering
Fruit cylindric to fusiform, generally square-topped, not beaked; ribs ± 10, ± scabrous; pappus of generally 5–many ± lanceolate, bristle-tipped scales
Etymology: (Greek: small chicory)
[Chambers Contr Dudley Herb Stanford U: 1955 4:207–312 & 1957 5:57–68] Hybridization common. Self-pollinating (annual) or self-incompatible and ± complex (perennial herb).

Native

M. laciniata (Hook.) Sch.Bip.

Perennial 15–100 cm, ± branched and leafy below
Leaf 10–50 cm
Inflorescence: involucre 14–30 mm; outer phyllaries linear to deltate, < to << inner
Flowers 13–100+; ligules yellow, >> involucre
Fruit 3.5–8 mm, not or barely wider at tip, gray to brown, smooth or outermost fruits scabrous on ribs; pappus scales 5–24, < 8 mm, white, bristles 4–12 mm, smooth to barbed
Chromosomes: 2n=18
Ecology: Open grassland, meadows, rocky slopes, forest edge
Elevation: < 2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, High Cascade Range, Modoc Plateau
Distribution outside California: Oregon

Native

subsp. leptosepala

Inflorescence: outer phyllaries linear to lanceolate, mealy, ± black-hairy, keel fleshy
Flowers 13–70
Fruit: pappus scales 5–10, < 1.5 mm; bristles smooth below
Ecology: Habitats of sp.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California
Horticultural information: TRY.