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, glabrous; sap milky
Stems erect, generally branched above
Leaves basal and cauline, alternate, oblong to widely elliptic or oblanceolate, dentate or pinnately lobed; lower ± petioled or sessile, clasping; upper bract-like
Inflorescence: heads ligulate, solitary or in ± flat-topped or panicle-like clusters; peduncles with scale-like or reduced leaf-like bracts; involucre cylindric or obconic; phyllaries in 34 series, outer 23 series unequal, lanceolate to ovate, acute to acuminate, tips spreading, innermost series ± equal, linear-acuminate, >> outer, erect, generally ± membrane-margined; receptacle flat or convex, naked
Flowers many; ligules white or cream, often rose-tinged, especially beneath, readily withering
Fruit narrowly elliptic; body smooth or tubercled, weakly ribbed, tapered to a beak; pappus a ring of plumose bristles
Species in genus: 2 species: sw US, n Mex
Etymology: (C.S. Rafinesque, eccentric US naturalist, 17831840)
Native |
Stem generally 1 from base, erect, branched chiefly in upper half, 215+ dm, in larger plants 10+ mm diam near base
Leaves 315 cm, oblong, dentate or coarsely and ± widely lobed
Inflorescence: heads generally severalmany; peduncles 18 cm; involucres 1420 mm
Flowers: ligules 58 mm, slightly > phyllaries
Fruit 911 mm (including beak); body 45 mm, ± glabrous to short-rough-hairy; beak slender, ± = body; pappus bristles 610 mm, very fine, plumose to tip with straight hairs, dull white to brownish; bristles bearing straight hairs
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: Shrubby slopes, open woods, deserts, often common after fires
Elevation: < 1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada Foothills, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast Ranges, Southwestern California, White and Inyo Mountains, Desert
Distribution outside California: to sw Utah, Arizona, Baja California
Flowering time: AprJul
Horticultural information: TRY.