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 subshrubs, generally ± hairy
Leaves alternate or basal, generally petioled, reduced upward, entire and linear or generally elliptic to ovate or obovate and 14-pinnately lobed; 1° lobes longest near middle or base of blade
Inflorescence: heads discoid (but outer flowers often enlarged, ± ray-like), 1many per stem, generally in terminal cymes; peduncle generally hairy like phyllary bases; involucre generally < 15 mm diam, cylindric to obconic or hemispheric; phyllaries in 12 ± equal series, generally linear to lanceolate, tips generally ± flat, generally ± green; receptacle flat to rounded, generally naked
Flowers 10many; corollas radial (outer, if enlarged, ± bilateral), generally white to pinkish or yellow, generally opening in daytime; anthers generally exserted
Fruit club-shaped, generally not compressed, stiffly hairy; pappus 0 or of 420 fringed scales in 1few series
Species in genus: 18 species: w North America
Etymology: (Greek: gaping ray, from enlarged outer corollas of some)
Reference: [Mooring 1980 Amer J Bot 67:13041309]
Spp. of sect. Chaenactis hybridize.
Native |
Annual, branched below middle, sometimes ± scapose
Stems 1many, ± erect, < 40 cm, becoming glabrous before flower time except near heads
Leaves < 9 cm, generally glabrous, ± fleshy; basal rosette withering; largest blades entire or 1-pinnately lobed, lobes 12(5) pairs, well separated, longest near middle, tips cylindric
Inflorescence: heads 1few per stem; peduncles < 11 cm, generally glandular-hairy near heads; involucre obconic to hemispheric, ± truncate at base, becoming glabrous; longest phyllaries 810(12) mm, tips erect, rigid, sharp
Flowers: corollas white to pinkish, outer bilateral, greatly enlarged, inner radial, 57 mm
Fruit (3)68 mm; pappus scales in 1 series, smaller and unequal on outer fruit, on inner fruit 4(5), equal, longest generally 68.5 mm, > buds, tips visible
Chromosomes: 2n=10
Ecology: Open sand or gravel
Elevation: < 1600 m.
Bioregional distribution: Tehachapi Mountain Area, s San Joaquin Valley, Inner South Coast Ranges, more common in s East of Sierra Nevada, Desert
Distribution outside California: to sw Utah, w Arizona, n Baja California
Flowering time: Spring
Scattered
Horticultural information: TRY.