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  • 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.

PLUCHEA

G. Ledyard Stebbins

Annual to shrub, stiff
Leaves alternate
Inflorescence: heads disciform, many; involucre ± hemispheric; phyllaries in 3–5 unequal series, outer leathery above, inner narrower, ± membranous; receptacle naked
Pistillate flowers many; corolla very slender, 4–5-lobed
Disk flowers few, fruiting or staminate; corolla 5-lobed, pink or purple in CA; anther bases short-tailed, tips ± ovate; style branches 0 to short, obtuse
Fruit ± cylindric, grooved; pappus 1 series of slender bristles
Species in genus: ± 40 species: tropical, warm temp
Etymology: (N.A. Pluche, 18th century French naturalist)

Native

P. sericea (Nutt.) Coville

ARROW WEED

Shrub 1–5 m, finely silky, not scented, nonglandular
Leaves 1–4 cm, linear to lanceolate, crowded, entire
Inflorescence: involucre 3.5–4.5 mm
Pistillate flowers: corollas 5–6.5 mm, pink to deep rose
Disk flowers: corollas 5–6 mm, pink to deep rose
Fruit 0.5–1 mm, smooth
Chromosomes: 2n=20
Ecology: Forming thickets in stream bottoms, washes, canyons, around springs, sometimes in saline areas
Elevation: < 600 m.
Bioregional distribution: San Joaquin Valley, Inner South Coast Ranges, South Coast, s Channel Islands, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, Desert
Distribution outside California: to Texas, nw Mexico
Flowering time: Mar–Jul
Horticultural information: STBL; INV.

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