TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
previous taxon |
next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information) |
|
©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.
Annual < 30 cm, monoecious, ± glabrous
Stem branched, erect
Leaves cauline, alternate, < 15 cm, entire or lobed
Inflorescence: heads radiate, borne in cymes; phyllaries in 1 series, thin, margins clear; receptacle flat, naked
Ray flowers 613, pistillate, (pistillate flowers without corollas sometimes also present); ligules ± yellow (or 0)
Disk flowers 2100, staminate; corolla yellow; anthers obcordate, pollen yellow or white; style undivided, tip head-like
Fruit 24.5 mm, obovoid, generally papillate (if so, gray, sticky when wet); pappus 0
Species in genus: 3 species: CA & Chile
Etymology: (Greek: slimy seed)
Reference: [Ornduff 1964 Brittonia 16:289295]
Native |
Leaves 0.56 cm, linear, pinnately lobed; lobes 315, short, linear
Inflorescence: involucre 56 mm
Ray flowers: ligules 37 mm, yellow or rarely white, ± purple on back; stigma yellow; pistillate flowers without corollas present
Disk flowers: stigmas and pollen white or yellow
Fruit 2.54.5 mm, smooth or ridged
Ecology: Grassland, scrub, woods, generally wet, open areas
Elevation: < 1600 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, North Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Great Central Valley, Central Western California, South Coast, Channel Islands.