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.

SANVITALIA

Annual, perennial herb
Stems simple to much-branched, prostrate to erect
Leaves simple, opposite
Inflorescence: heads radiate, solitary or in few-headed cymes; peduncle slender; involucre disk-like to hemispheric; phyllaries in 1–2 series; receptacle conic, chaffy; chaff scales lanceolate, ± awn-tipped
Ray flowers 5–13; tube 0; ligules 2–3-lobed, cream to orange, persistent on fruit
Disk flowers many; corollas cream to yellow or brown; lobes very small; style tips triangular
Fruit glabrous; ray achenes thick, pappus of short, stout awns; disk achenes short, pappus 0 or of 2 awns
Species in genus: 5 species: sw US, Mex, n C.Am, South America
Etymology: (either Sanvital, a Spanish botanist, or the Italian Sanvital family)
Reference: [Strother 1979 Madroño 26:173–179]

Native

S. abertii A. Gray

ABERT'S SANVITALIA

Annual 2–29 cm
Stems spreading or erect, simple to much-branched, strigose
Leaves sessile or short-petioled, 2–5 cm, linear to lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, acute, scabrous
Inflorescence: heads generally in cymes; peduncle 0–30 mm; phyllaries 5–11, prominently veined, acute, ± glabrous; awn-tips of chaff scales > disk flowers
Ray flowers 1 per phyllary; corollas yellow, drying cream; ligules thick, 2–3 mm, ± leathery, generally 2-lobed
Disk flowers: corollas 1–2 mm, cylindric, yellow, drying cream
Fruit: ray achenes 3–4 mm, straw-colored, pappus awns 3, < or = 1 mm, stout; disk achenes 2.5–3.5 mm, brown, ± 4-angled, warty, pappus 0
Chromosomes: 2n=22
Ecology: Dry slopes
Elevation: 1800 m.
Bioregional distribution: Desert Mountains (Clark, New York mtns)
Distribution outside California: to Texas, n Mexico
Flowering time: Aug–Sep