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 or perennial herb < 30 cm, ascending, hairy
Leaves sessile; lower opposite; blades < 2.5 cm, oblong, serrate
Inflorescence open; heads discoid, small, 1few; involucre hemispheric to bell-shaped; phyllaries ± 30, subequal in 23 series; receptacle convex to conic, naked
Flowers 75125; corolla tube narrow; style branches slender
Fruit 45-ribbed; pappus of 26 short bristles, ± 1 mm
Species in genus: 2 species: sw US, Mex
Etymology: (Greek: hair crown, from pappus)
Reference: [King & Robinson 1987 Monogr Syst Bot Missouri Bot Garden 22:188190]