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 Plant Deaver Herbarium (Northern Arizona University): Attribution-Non-Commercial (CC BY-NC) |  Bracts Patrick Alexander @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) |  Flower head Patrick Alexander @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) | | | |
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Origin:
Native
Life Cycle:
Annual Similar Species: Calycoseris parryi
General Desc:
Showy winter annual usually branched from base, with taproot and milky sap; distinguished by its flower heads of only ligulate florets (ray flowers); leaves and stems conspicuously dotted with straw-colored, sometimes whitish, stipitate (stalked) glands.
Identification notes: Winter annual; much branched from the base; flowers white fading to purple, ray flowers only; leaves finely divided; sprinkled with tack shaped glands above; fruit (achene) separates from pappus (white bristles) at maturity.
Height:
2 to 12 inches
Habitat Description: Gravels derived from limestone, volcanics, granites and caliche soils on sandy plains, rocky mesas and slopes, stream bottoms, desert pavement and washes. Growing up through shrubs in springtime in lower elevations. Often found near creosote or mesquite.
Plant Communities:
Desert Scrub, Semidesert Grasslands, Riparian, Disturbed Areas
Elevation: 1000 - 4000 feet
Color:
White to purplish
Shape:
Daisy or dandelion-like not in clusters
Tubular:
N
Flowering Period:
Mar - May
Description:
Flower heads solitary, ends of branches; ligulate flowers (ray flowers only), 5-toothed, strap-shaped, 25 per head, on truncate tip (as if cut off at end), often with fine purplish veins, dots or streaks on lower surface. Flowers fade to purplish color.
Leaf Color:
Green
Leaf Type:
Simple
Leaf Shape:
Pinnatifid
Leaf Margin:
Smooth
Leaf Attachment:
Basal and alternate
Leaves Clasp:
N
Hairs:
Leaves and stems
Spines:
N
Leaf Description:
In basal rosettes and alternate along the stems; leaves not stemmed; blades up to 4 inches long, pinnately divided into narrow lobes, lobes opposite like a feather, 1/16 inch or less; upper leaves smaller and not lobed.
Fruit Color: Brown
Fruit Type: Achene
Fruit Notes: Achenes tapered at both ends, 5-ribbed, shallowly grooved, faces slightly wrinkled, 1/4 inch long, tapering into slender prolonged tip which expands into a small cup with many small teeth; pappus at base of achene (smooth white bristles).
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