TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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Jepson Interchange (more information) |
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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.
Annual to perennial herb (sometimes short-lived, dying after flowering once)
Stem generally erect
Leaves: lower generally tapered or petioled, often wavy-margined, generally pinnately lobed, ± dentate, lobes and teeth spine-tipped, margin generally spiny-ciliate, glabrous to tomentose; upper generally sessile, ± reduced
Inflorescence: heads discoid, 1many; involucre cylindric to spheric; phyllaries many, graduated in several series, outer spine-tipped; receptacle flat, long-bristly
Flowers generally many; corollas ± bilateral, white to red or purple, tube long, slender, lobes linear; anther bases sharply sagittate, tips oblong; style tip with slightly swollen node, appendage (above node) long, cylindric, branches very short
Fruit ovoid, glabrous; scar slightly angled; pappus bristles many, plumose, ± persistent or falling in ring
Species in genus: ± 200 species: North America, Eurasia
Etymology: (Greek: thistle)
Taxa difficult, incompletely differentiated, hybridize.
Native |
Biennial 130 dm, erect or low, mound-like
Stem generally 1, branched above (near base in dwarf plants), ± tomentose
Leaves ± densely gray- or whitish tomentose, especially below; lower 14 dm, petioles spiny-winged, blade oblanceolate, lobed 1/2+ to midvein, lobes widely triangular, dentate or further lobed, main spines 110 mm; upper gradually reduced, sessile, ± clasping or short-decurrent, linear or oblong, often entire, often spinier than lower, uppermost bract-like
Inflorescence: heads 1several in loose to tight cluster (barely raised above rosette in dwarf plants); peduncles 130 cm; involucres 1.55 cm, 1.58 cm diam, ovoid to spheric; phyllaries ± equal to strongly graduated, linear or linear-lanceolate, straight, ascending and appressed to widely radiating, often connected side-to-side by conspicuous cobwebby hairs, spines 310+ mm, inner with tips flat, straight
Flowers: corollas 1840 mm, white to purple or red, tube 818 mm, throat 57 mm, lobes 510 mm
Fruit 56 mm, shiny, ± brown; pappus 1530 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=30
Ecology: Many habitats
Elevation: < 3600 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province (except San Joaquin Valley), Modoc Plateau, White and Inyo Mountains, w Mojave Desert
Distribution outside California: to s Oregon, sw Idaho, w Nevada
Variable; ± distinctive, intergrading races often treated as sp.
Native |
Plants generally 315+ dm, erect
Inflorescence: heads generally long-peduncled, sometimes in tight clusters at ends of peduncles, well elevated above lower leaves; involucre generally 45 cm diam, ± densely cobwebby; middle phyllary tips generally 12 cm, generally 12 mm wide, straight or curved upward, ascending to spreading
Flowers: corollas generally 2535 mm, generally ± purple
Chromosomes: 2n=30
Ecology: Common. Grassland, coastal dunes, oak woodland, scrub, often in disturbed places
Elevation: generally < 200 m.
Bioregional distribution: s North Coast, Central Western California, Southwestern California
Synonyms: C. coulteri Harv. & A. Gray
Intergrades with var. venustum in SnFrB
Horticultural information: DRN, SUN: 5, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24.