| 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; sap milky
Stems erect, 1–8 dm
Leaves basal, entire or lobed
Inflorescence: heads ligulate, 1–few, in ± flat-topped cyme; phyllaries few, overlapping in a graduated series; receptacle chaffy with thin scales
Flowers generally many; ligules yellow, readily withering
Fruit long-beaked or outer cylindric, beakless; pappus of stiff, plumose bristles, or outer shorter and barbed
Species in genus: ± 50 species: Eurasia, n Africa, South America
Etymology: (Greek: name from Theophrastus)
| Introduced |
Annual, glabrous
Stems 1–many from slender taproot, 1–4 dm
Leaves 2–10 cm, entire or shallowly lobed
Inflorescence: involucre 12–16 mm
Flowers: ligules short, inconspicuous
Fruit: outer achenes 4 mm, cylindric, beakless, pappus short and spreading; inner achenes longer, beak = body, pappus ± 9 mm, tawny or dull white
Chromosomes: 2n=10,12
Ecology: Common. Weed of disturbed places
Elevation: < 1200 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: native to Europe