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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.

WYETHIA

MULES EARS

Perennial from stout, taprooted caudex, generally ± unbranched
Leaves alternate, generally reduced upward; petiole generally << blade, often winged
Inflorescence: heads generally radiate, 1–few, ± large; involucre hemispheric or bell-shaped; phyllaries ± many in 2–3 series, outer often ± leaf-like; receptacle ± convex; chaff scales ± linear, entire, generally ± hairy
Ray flowers (0)5–20; ligules yellow
Disk flowers many; corollas yellow, lobes short; anthers brown or yellow, tips triangular; style tips linear, tapered
Fruit: pappus 0 or crown of scales; ray achenes 3-angled; disk achenes 4-angled, sometimes ± compressed
Etymology: (Nathaniel J. Wyeth, US explorer, 1802–1856)
Reference: [Weber 1946 Amer Midl Naturalist 35:400–452]

Native

W. mollis A. Gray

Plants 3–5 dm, ± tomentose, often becoming glabrous
Leaves: basal > cauline; blade 20–40 cm, oblanceolate to widely obovate, base acuminate to obtuse
Inflorescence: peduncle 1–10 cm, leafy-bracted; involucre ± 2 cm diam, ± bell-shaped; phyllaries generally few, ± equal, 15–35 mm, oblong-lanceolate, acute to obtuse; chaff scales 15–16 mm
Ray flowers 5–11; ligules 30–45 mm
Disk flowers: corollas 10 mm
Fruit 9–11 mm; upper half puberulent to tomentose; pappus of short scales, < 1 mm, sometimes also 1–few lanceolate scales < 8 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=38
Ecology: Open forest, dry rocky slopes
Elevation: 1200–3400 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, n&c Sierra Nevada, n East of Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: se Oregon, w Nevada
Flowering time: May–Aug
Horticultural information: TRY; DFCLT.

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