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 to perennial herb; sap milky
Stem generally 1 from base
Leaves mostly cauline, entire to pinnately lobed
Inflorescence: heads ligulate, solitary, long- peduncled; phyllaries in 1 series, fused at base; receptacle naked
Flowers many; ligules yellow, readily withering
Fruit ± oblong, beaked; pappus of 2 rows of plumose bristles
Species in genus: 2 species: Medit
Etymology: (Latin: tailed seed, from beak)
Introduced |
Stem 34 dm, long-hairy and with slender spine-like bristles
Leaves: lower tapered to base; upper sessile, clasping; blades toothed or lobed (or upper entire)
Inflorescence: peduncles stout; involucre 1.32.2 cm; phyllaries 78, widely lanceolate, long-acuminate, bristly
Fruit 1114 mm; beak ± > body
Chromosomes: 2n=8,10
Ecology: Uncommon. Disturbed places
Elevation: < 100 m.
Bioregional distribution: n Sierra Nevada Foothills, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast
Distribution outside California: native to Europe