TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
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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.
Perennial from rhizome, ascending to erect, branched above
Leaves alternate, sessile, linear-lanceolate, 35-veined, entire, resin-dotted; margins finely scabrous
Inflorescence dense, sometimes flat-topped; heads radiate, subsessile; involucre ± ovoid; phyllaries in graded series, midrib generally ± swollen, translucent; receptable convex, naked, pitted
Ray flowers: ligules yellow
Disk flowers: corollas yellow, ± glabrous; style branches finely papillate, appendages narrowly triangular
Fruit fusiform; pappus bristles 2545, long, in 1 whorl
Species in genus: ± 8 species: North America
Etymology: (Greek: well-crowded, from dense inflorescence)
Reference: [Sieren 1981 Rhodora 83: 551579]