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. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
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.
Species in genus: 1 sp
Etymology: (Greek & Latin: chaffy achene, from fruit)
Native |
Annual 2.540 cm, ± soft-hairy
Stem erect, generally few-branched
Leaves simple, sessile, ± sheathing; lower opposite and fused around stem; upper alternate; blades 212 cm, linear, obtuse, entire or few-toothed
Inflorescence soft-hairy, ± glandular; heads radiate, 1few; peduncles (0.5)311 cm, bractless; involucre 12 cm, cylindric to ellipsoid or narrowly bell-shaped; phyllaries 38 in 1 series, each tightly enwrapping ovary of a ray flower; chaff scales ± equal, in 1 involucre-like series, generally slightly < phyllaries, flat, widely membrane-margined
Ray flowers 38; corollas 1012 mm, yellow to red; ligules 56 mm, inconspicuous, slightly exceeding phyllaries
Disk flowers 635; corollas 610 mm, yellow to red, tube = throat, lobes 0.50.8 mm; style branches tapered, short-bristly
Fruit: ray achenes ± cylindric, smooth, black, pappus 0; disk achenes 4.58.5 mm, 10-ribbed, scabrous, black, pappus of 10 oblong, blunt, shining, white scales in 2 series, 36 mm and 611 mm, scales widely spreading in fruit
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: Common. Grassy areas
Elevation: < 900 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: s Oregon, n Baja California
Horticultural information: SUN, DRN: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.