| 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 or perennial herb < 60 dm, generally ± branched, generally erect; sap milky
Leaves generally basal and cauline, alternate, sessile, generally reduced upward
Inflorescence: heads ligulate, 2–10 mm diam; involucre 5–20 mm, generally bell-shaped; phyllaries in 3–6 series; receptacle naked or with fragile bristles < 5 mm
Flowers: corollas readily withering; ligules yellow or white, generally ± purple-striped below
Fruit generally fusiform, straw-colored to purple-brown, truncate; veins 15 (5 generally prominent, 10 sometimes obscure); outer pappus ± 0 or of 0–6 smooth, persistent bristles, inner 12–32 bristles fused at base, readily deciduous, minutely barbed below
Species in genus: 21 species: w North America, s South America
Etymology: (Greek: soft hair)
Reference: [Williams 1957 Am Midland Naturalist 58:494–517]
| Native |
Annual 5–60 cm, generally glabrous
Leaves: basal generally obovate, ± narrowly lobed; upper cauline ± 2–4-lobed near base
Inflorescence: heads ± 3–4 mm diam; involucre 7–10 mm; outer phyllaries ± 1/2 inner, lanceolate to ovate
Flowers: corollas 6–8 mm, white or pale yellow, outer corollas exserted 1–2 mm
Fruit 1.7–2.3 mm, ± light brown; veins ± equal, very tip veinless; outer pappus of narrow teeth, bristles 1(2)
Chromosomes: 2n=28
Ecology: Uncommon. Gravelly soils beneath shrubs
Elevation: 300–1300 m.
Bioregional distribution: East of Sierra Nevada, Desert
Distribution outside California: Oregon, Nevada, Arizona
M. similis W.S. Davis & P.H. Raven (fruit veined to very tip), mostly of Mex, collected twice in CA (n SCo, n ChI).