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  • Up-to-date information about California vascular plants is available from the Jepson eFlora.

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.

GNAPHALIUM

CUDWEED, EVERLASTING

G. Ledyard Stebbins

Annual or perennial herb, generally ± woolly or tomentose
Leaves alternate, sessile, entire
Inflorescence: heads disciform, many, small, ± sessile in clusters; involucres ± cylindric to spheric, often bell-shaped when pressed; phyllaries graded in several series, transparent to opaque at tips or scarious ± throughout; receptacle flat, naked
Pistillate flowers many, in several series; corollas very slender, minutely lobed, cream to pale yellow or tip reddish
Disk flowers few; corollas ± cylindric to funnel-shaped, whitish to purplish; anther bases short-tailed; style branches wider at tip, truncate
Fruit < 1 mm, oblong; pappus of many fine bristles, bases sometimes fused
Species in genus: ± 120 species: worldwide
Etymology: (Greek: lock of wool)

Native

G. stramineum Kunth

Annual or biennial 8–70 cm, unscented, ± tomentose throughout
Stems 1–several from caudex
Leaves 10–70 mm, lanceolate to oblong or narrowly spoon-shaped, decurrent
Inflorescence: heads in dense terminal clusters; involucre 3.8–5.5 mm, ovoid; phyllaries transparent to opaque, white to straw-colored in upper part, base glabrous or loosely tomentose
Flowers 65–110; pistillate corollas 1.8–2.5 mm
Fruit: pappus bristles free
Chromosomes: 2n=28
Ecology: Moist, disturbed places
Elevation: < 2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: California
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, Texas, Mexico
Flowering time: Jun–Oct
Synonyms: G. chilense Spreng

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