TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
	©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.

PSILOCARPHUS

WOOLLY-HEADS, WOOLLY MARBLES

James D. Morefield

Annual, gray to green, cobwebby to tomentose
Stems generally several from base, generally spreading, < 20 cm, ± forked; central axis generally 0 or not dominant
Leaves simple, generally opposite, ± sessile, < 3 cm, ± obtuse, entire (uppermost ± alternate or seeming whorled, generally ± appressed to heads)
Inflorescence: heads disciform, sessile, solitary or in small groups, generally spheric; bracts like leaves; phyllaries 0; receptacle 1–2 X > wide, ± obovoid, generally entire, chaffy; chaff scales each enclosing a pistillate flower, falling with a fruit, length generally < 3 X width, generally ± obovoid, bulged upward, woolly, net-veined, tip scarious-winged, offset to inner edge, generally ± 2/3 the distance from base to top of scale, projected inward, beak-like, hidden in head
Pistillate flowers in many series, each subtended by a chaff scale; corollas tubular
Disk flowers staminate, 2–10, not subtended by chaff scales; ovary vestigial
Fruit smooth, shiny; pappus 0
Species in genus: 3–5 ill-defined species: w North America, s South America
Etymology: (Greek: slender chaff)
Reference: [Cronquist 1950 Res Stud State Coll WA 18:71–89]
Spp. appear to intergrade, need detailed study.

Native

P. tenellus Nutt.

Plants variously tomentose
Stems generally several from base, spreading; central axis 0 or not dominant
Leaves: uppermost oblanceolate to obovate, longest < 16 mm, generally 1.5–5 X > wide
Inflorescence: largest head < 6 mm; longest chaff scale generally 1.8–2.7 mm
Disk flowers 0.8–1.5 mm, 4–5-lobed
Fruit 0.6–1.2 mm, ± obovoid
Ecology: Vernal pools, coastal dunes, dry disturbed soil
Elevation: < 2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, Idaho, nw Baja California, also in c Chile

Native

var. globiferus (DC.) Morefield

ROUND WOOLLY MARBLES

Plants variously tomentose
Leaves: uppermost ± appressed to and concealing heads, ovate to widely elliptic, generally 1.5–2 X > wide
Disk flowers generally 4-lobed
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Vernal pools, coastal dunes
Elevation: 0–700 m.
Bioregional distribution: c&s Sierra Nevada Foothills, San Joaquin Valley, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area
Distribution outside California: c Chile
Synonyms: var. tenuis (Eastw.) Cronquist; P. globiferus Nutt. misapplied
A similar SnBr form seems best assigned to P. brevissimus var. b.