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.

BLEPHARIPAPPUS

Bruce G. Baldwin and Susan J. Bainbridge

Species in genus: 1 sp
Etymology: (Greek: eyelash pappus)

Native

B. scaber Hook.

Annual 7–40 cm, slender-branched, scabrous to short-hairy, glandular above
Leaves ± alternate, sessile, generally ascending, < 35 mm, linear; margin generally rolled under
Inflorescence: heads 1 or in leafy cymes, radiate; involucre obconic to hemispheric; phyllaries partly surrounding ray fruit, 3–8 mm, glandular; outer receptacle scales phyllary-like, tips of inner green, hairy
Ray flowers 2–8; ligules 2–8 mm, white, purple-veined below; style branches long, glabrous
Disk flowers 6–25(60); corollas 2–3.5 mm, white; anthers purple, tips acute; style barely branched, bristly
Fruit 2–3.5 mm, ± obconic, black, generally ± white-hairy; pappus (0 or) generally < 26 flattened, plumose bristles
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: Yellow-pine forest, juniper woodland
Elevation: 1000–3000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, n Sierra Nevada, Modoc Plateau
Distribution outside California: to Washington, Idaho, Nevada
Synonyms: subsp. laevis (A. Gray) D.D. Keck
Horticultural information: TRY.