ASTERACEAE

SUNFLOWER FAMILY

David J. Keil, Family Editor and author, except as specified

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.

PEUCEPHYLLUM

Species in genus: 1 sp.: sw North America
Etymology: (Greek: fir-leaf)
Reference: [Strother 1978 North America Fl II 10:160–173]

Native

P. schottii A. Gray

PYGMY-CEDAR

Shrub or small tree < 3 m, rounded
Stem densely leafy, green
Leaves alternate, generally 1–2 cm, narrowly linear, thick, generally entire, glabrous, gland-dotted, resin-varnished
Inflorescence: heads solitary, discoid; peduncle 8–25 mm, leafy-bracted; involucre ± obconic; phyllaries 9–18 in 1 series, 8–12 mm, linear to lanceolate, thick, acuminate, gland-dotted near tip, margins often scarious; receptacle flat, naked
Disk flowers 12–21; corollas 6.5–8.5 mm, pale yellow, tube << throat; anther bases weakly tailed, tips lanceolate to ovate; style branches minutely papillate, rounded-truncate
Fruit 3–4 mm, narrowly obconic, weakly angled, blackish, bristly; pappus of many fine bristles, 2–5 mm (sometimes also 15–20 slender scales 4–6 mm), straw-colored to red-brown
Ecology: Rocky slopes, often among boulders
Elevation: < 1400 m.
Bioregional distribution: Desert
Distribution outside California: Arizona, nw Mexico
Flowering time: Dec–May
Horticultural information: TRY; DFCLT.