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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.

NICOLLETIA

Annual, perennial herb; herbage ill-scented, glabrous, often glaucous
Leaves generally alternate, simple, pinnately lobed; each lobe with an embedded oil gland, bristle-tipped
Inflorescence: heads radiate, solitary or in cymes; peduncles short, stout; involucre hemispheric to bell-shaped; phyllaries generally in 2 series, free, outer 0–6, short, lanceolate to triangular, inner 8–12, oblong, membrane-margined, gland-dotted; receptacle convex, naked
Ray flowers generally 8; ligules showy, white to pink-purple
Disk flowers many; corollas yellow, sometimes purple-tipped; style-tips long, thread-like
Fruit narrowly club-shaped, short-hairy; pappus of 5 bundles of bristles alternating with 5 lanceolate scales
Species in genus: 3 species: sw US, n Mex
Etymology: (J.N. Nicollet, French astronomer, explorer, 1786–1843)
Reference: [Strother 1978 Sida 369–374]

Native

N. occidentalis A. Gray

Perennial from deep taproot, glaucous
Stems erect, 12–30 cm
Leaves ± fleshy, 2–7 cm, divided into 5–11 pairs of short lobes
Inflorescence: heads solitary; peduncles generally 2–10 mm; involucre ± cylindric; outer phyllaries 4–8 mm; inner phyllaries 14–18 mm, linear to ovate, acute to acuminate, gland-dotted
Ray flowers 8–12; ligules 4.5–8.5 mm
Disk flowers: corollas 8–9.5 mm
Fruit 7–9 mm; pappus bristles 3–7 mm, scales 6–8 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=20
Ecology: Sandy desert soils, often dunes, washes
Elevation: 600–1400 m.
Bioregional distribution: s High Sierra Nevada, Mojave Desert
Distribution outside California: also n Baja California
Flowering time: Apr–Jun

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