Key to Helianthella

View taxon page for Helianthella

(For a list of species in Helianthella, use the above link.)

Jepson Manual glossary definitions can be seen by moving your cursor over words underlined with dots.

1. Outer phyllaries generally enlarged, leaf-like, incurved; 

involucre 

Group of bracts more or less held together as a unit, subtending a flower, fruit (acorn cup), or inflorescence.

2.5–4 cm diam; fruit center thick, edge thin ..... H. castanea

1' Outer phyllaries seldom enlarged or leaf-like, not incurved; involucre generally (1)1.5–2 cm diam; fruit 

compressed 

Flattened side-to-side or front-to-back.

, thin ..... H. californica

2. Pappus 0; stem branched; cauline leaves generally 

opposite 

1. Arranged in pairs along an axis - e.g., two leaves per node. 2. Occurring in the same rank, directly above or below, as 'stamens opposite petals'. 3. Located directly across from.

..... var. californica

2' Pappus present; stem generally unbranched; cauline leaves generally 

alternate 

1. Arranged singly, often spirally, along an axis - e.g., one leaf per node. 2. Occurring in different ranks, appearing to be between, not directly above or below, as 'stamens alternate petals'.

3. Disk generally 1.5–2 cm diam; pappus generally of 2 

awns 

1. Bristle-like appendage or elongation, generally terminal. 2. Stiff, needle-like pappus element in Asteraceae.

or narrow scales, 1–2 mm, and crown of short scales; 

leaf 

Organ arising from a stem, generally composed of a stalk (petiole) and a flat, expanded, green, photosynthetic area (blade); distinguished from a leaflet by the presence in its axil of a bud, branch, thorn, or flower; sometimes with lateral, basal appendages (stipules); either simple (toothed, lobed, or dissected but not divided into leaflets) or compound (divided into leaflets).

 blades oblong- or lance-linear, (1.5)2–4(4.5) cm wide, heads generally 2–3 ..... var. nevadensis

3' Disk generally 1–1.5 cm diam; pappus generally of 2 awns, 1 mm; leaf blades 

linear 

Elongate, with nearly parallel sides; narrower than elliptic or oblong.

to lance-linear (narrowly ovate), 3–6(18) mm wide; heads generally 1 ..... var. shastensis

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