TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
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Annual to tree
Leaves basal or cauline, alternate to whorled, simple to compound
Inflorescence: 1° inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower, 1many, generally arrayed in cymes, generally subtended by ± calyx-like involucre; flowers 1many 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)45; stamens 45, 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):128. See glossary p. 25 for illustrations of general family characteristics.
Biennial, perennial herb, thistle-like, spiny; sap milky
Stems erect, ± branched above
Leaves basal and cauline, alternate, pinnately lobed; lobes spine-tipped, decurrent on stem as spiny wings
Inflorescence: heads ligulate, severalmany, in spike-like to panicle-like clusters; phyllaries in several rows; receptacle chaffy, scales scarious, slightly winged, tightly enclosing fruits
Flowers many; ligules yellow, readily withering
Fruit flattened parallel to phyllaries, falling with chaff scales; pappus 0 or of a few rigid bristles
Species in genus: 3 species: Medit
Etymology: (Greek: ancient name)
Introduced |
Stems 28 dm, stout
Leaves 420 cm; basal soft, weakly spiny; cauline rigid, oblong to ovate, shallowly lobed, spiny and ± hairy
Inflorescence: heads sessile or short-peduncled, solitary in upper leaf axils or clustered in narrow panicles; involucre 1520 mm
Fruit 35 mm, club-shaped; pappus bristles present
Chromosomes: 2n=20
Ecology: Uncommon. Disturbed grassy areas
Elevation: < 100 m.
Bioregional distribution: se Sacramento Valley, San Francisco Bay Area
Distribution outside California: native to Europe
Weedy.