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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.

BIDENS

STICKTIGHT, SPANISH-NEEDLES, BEGGAR'S TICK

Annual, perennial herb, shrubs
Stems prostrate to erect
Leaves simple or pinnate, generally opposite, sessile or petioled
Inflorescence: heads radiate or discoid, generally few in CA; involucre cylindric to bell-shaped; phyllaries in 2 dissimilar series, outer generally ± leaf-like in texture, inner thinner, with transparent or scarious margins; receptacle chaffy; chaff scales narrow, flat
Ray flowers 0 or few; ligules yellow or white
Disk flowers generally many; corollas yellow, radial (or outermost white, bilateral)
Fruit narrowly club-shaped, thick or compressed front-to-back; pappus 0 or awns 1–several, generally barbed
Species in genus: ± 230 species: worldwide
Etymology: (Latin: 2 teeth)
Reference: [Sherff & Alexander 1955 North America Flora 2(2):70–129]

Native

B. frondosa L.

STICKTIGHT

Annual, ± glabrous
Stems 5–12 dm, square
Leaves compound, petioled; leaflets 2–8 cm, lanceolate, generally acuminate, serrate
Inflorescence: heads radiate or discoid, erect; peduncles 2–10 cm; involucre ± 1 cm diam, hemispheric; outer phyllaries 5–8, 1–5 cm, ± linear, ciliate; inner phyllaries 5–7 mm, ovate; chaff scales 5–7 mm, brownish
Ray flowers 0–few; corollas 2–3.5 mm
Disk flowers: corollas ± 2 mm, orange
Fruit 6–10 mm, blackish, narrowly wedge-shaped, flat, ± glabrous to stiffly hairy; pappus awns generally 2, 3–4.5 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=48
Ecology: Uncommon. Damp soil, especially disturbed sites
Elevation: generally < 1600 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast Ranges, Great Central Valley, Southwestern California, Great Basin Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to e N.America
Flowering time: Aug–Oct

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