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.
Biennial or perennial herb from strong taproot; herbage ± glabrous; sap milky
Stems: branches few, strongly ascending
Leaves basal and cauline, alternate, entire, grass-like, parallel-veined
Inflorescence: heads ligulate, solitary at branch tips; peduncles long, naked; involucre cylindric or narrowly conic; phyllaries in 1 series; receptacle naked
Flowers yellow to bronze or purple; ligules readily withering
Fruit 2.53 cm; beak stout, > body; pappus of stout plumose bristles, 2° bristles tangled, tips of a few bristles > the rest, unbranched; fruits spreading, forming a spheric head 45 cm diam
Species in genus: ± 45 species: Eurasia
Etymology: (Greek: goat's beard)
Introduced |
Biennial 410 dm
Leaves 24 dm
Inflorescence: peduncle much wider toward tip; phyllaries 511, 2.54 cm in flower heads, > flowers, 47 cm in fruit heads
Flowers: ligules purple
Fruit 2.54 cm; pappus ± brown
Chromosomes: 2n=12
Ecology: Common. Weed in waste places
Elevation: 01700 m.
Bioregional distribution: Most of California Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: native to Europe