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.
Annual to perennial herb, ± branched
Leaves alternate; lower generally deeply 12-lobed, segments generally narrow; upper reduced
Inflorescence: heads discoid (sterile outer flowers sometimes ± ray-like); involucre cylindric to hemispheric; phyllaries many, graded, generally ± ovate, scarious-margined, tip appendages fringed to spiny; receptacle flat, long-bristly
Flowers: inner fruiting; anther bases tailed, tips oblong; style top minutely hairy, tips minutely branched
Fruit ± barrel-shaped, ± compressed, attached ± at side; pappus generally of stiff, unequal bristles or narrow scales
Species in genus: ± 500 species: especially Eurasia, n Africa (± 2 North America); some cultivated (waifs may including C. cineraria L., C. eriophora L., C. jacea L., C. moschata L., C. muricata L., C. salmantica L.)
Etymology: (Greek: ancient name)
Weedy.
Introduced |
Annual 110 dm, ± rounded, gray-tomentose
Leaves ± scabrous-bristly; lower 515 cm, 12-lobed, generally 0 at flower; cauline long-decurrent
Inflorescence open; heads 1many; involucre 1317 mm, ovoid; main phyllaries pale green to straw-colored or brown, appendages palmately spiny, central spine 1025 mm, stout
Flowers many; corollas 1320 mm, ± equal, yellow, sterile corollas slender
Fruit 23 mm, glabrous; outer fruit dark brown (pappus 0); inner fruit ± mottled light brown (pappus bristles 24 mm, fine, white)
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: Pastures, roadsides, disturbed grassland or woodland
Elevation: < 1300 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province, Mojave Desert
Distribution outside California: native to s Europe
Flowering time: MayOct
Invasive, especially in pastures.Cumulatively TOXIC to horses .