| 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, 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.
Annual, perennial herb
Stems generally erect
Leaves simple to 1–3 X pinnately divided, opposite
Inflorescence: heads radiate, 1–few in cymes; peduncles long; involucre hemispheric; phyllaries in 2 series, fused at base, outer generally ± leaf-like in texture, inner thinner, wider; receptacle ± flat, chaffy, scales ± flat, entire
Ray flowers sterile; ligules yellow to white, pink, or purple
Disk flowers many; corollas yellow; style tips thickened, acute
Fruit ± cylindric, generally 4-angled, often beaked or much narrowed toward tip; pappus 0 or of 2–8 stiff, barbed awns
Species in genus: ± 26 species: tropical, subtropical Am, especially Mex
Etymology: (Greek: ornament)
Reference: [Sherff & Alexander 1955 North America Flora 2(2):130–146]
| Introduced |
Annual, glabrous or puberulent
Stems generally erect, 3–20 dm
Leaves sessile or short-petioled; blade 6–11 cm, 1–2 X divided into linear segments < or = 1.5 mm wide
Inflorescence: peduncles 1–2 dm; involucre 7–15 mm diam; outer phyllaries generally 8, 9–13 mm, lanceolate; inner phyllaries ovate-lanceolate
Ray flowers generally ± 8; ligules 1–3 cm, white to pink or purple
Disk flowers: corollas 5–7 mm
Fruit 7–16 mm, black; pappus awns 0–3, 1–1.5 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=24
Ecology: Uncommon. Disturbed places
Elevation: < 1000 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: native to tropical America
Cult as ornamental.