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. |
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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, perennial herb, glabrous or hairy
Stem generally branched, generally erect, < 60 cm
Leaves opposite, < 20 cm, entire to pinnately cut
Inflorescence: heads radiate, solitary or in cymes; phyllaries in 1 or 2 series, free or partly fused; receptacle narrowly conic to hemispheric, naked, smooth, pitted, or rough
Ray flowers 421; ligules generally yellow
Disk flowers generally many; corollas generally 5-lobed, generally yellow; anther tips acuminate to triangular; style tips triangular or round, generally hair-tufted
Fruit < 5 mm, cylindric to obovoid, black or gray; pappus of awns, scales, or 0
Species in genus: 17 species: w North America, Chile
Etymology: (Greek: female pupil of Plato)
Reference: [Ornduff 1966 Univ Calif Publ Bot 40:192]
Generally self-incompatible (cross-pollinated).
Native |
Annual < 40 cm
Stem simple or freely branched, ± hairy
Leaves 0.87 cm, linear to oblanceolate, entire, hairy, ± fleshy in coastal forms
Inflorescence: involucre 510 mm, bell-shaped or hemispheric; phyllaries 413, free, hairy; receptacle conic, rough, glabrous
Ray flowers 613; ligules 510 mm
Disk flowers generally many; anther tips triangular; style tips triangular
Fruit < 3 mm, linear to ± club-shaped, glabrous or hairy; pappus of 17 narrow awns, wider awned scales, or 0
Chromosomes: 2n=16,32
Ecology: Abundant. Many habitats
Elevation: < 1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province, w Mojave Desert
Distribution outside California: sw Oregon, Arizona, Mexico
Flowering time: FebJun
Highly variable; needs further study
Synonyms: L. chrysostoma (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Greene
Horticultural information: SUN: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.