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 or perennial herb, generally scapose; sap milky
Leaves ± basal, narrow, entire to pinnately lobed
Inflorescence: head 1, ligulate, erect, 860 mm; phyllaries subequal or overlapping in 24 series, inner often elongated in fruit; receptacle flat, naked
Flowers generally many; ligules = to >> involucre, yellow or red-orange, readily withering, outer ± reddish below
Fruit linear to fusiform, ± 10-ribbed; beak often = or >> body; pappus of many fine, simple, white bristles
Species in genus: ± 10 species: Am
Etymology: (Greek: goat chicory)
Reference: [Q. Jones 1954 PhD Harvard U.]
Like Taraxacum but closely related to Nothocalais.Hybrids and polyploidy complicate variation in some species
Native |
Annual 540 cm, ± white-hairy (except densely yellow- to reddish hairy and glandular at base of head)
Leaves generally oblanceolate, acute, entire to few-toothed, less often narrower and lobed, generally softly or roughly white-hairy
Inflorescence: involucre 825 mm; outer phyllaries oblong-lanceolate, generally ciliate and glandular-hairy on back, often reddish tinged or striped, tip tapered, green; inner phyllaries much elongated in fruit
Flowers 5many, = to >> involucre; ligules yellow
Fruit: body 25 mm, variable, often wavy-ribbed, sometimes inflated; beak >> body
Chromosomes: 2n=18,36
Ecology: Many open habitats
Elevation: < 2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: California (except East of Sierra Nevada, Desert)
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, Idaho, New Mexico, Mexico
Variable; small-flowered races self-fertilizing.