Matricaria occidentalis

Greene

Bull. Calif. Acad. Sci. 2: 150. 1886.

Common names: Valley mayweed
IllustratedEndemic
Synonyms: Chamomilla occidentalis (Greene) Rydberg
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 19. Treatment on page 542. Mentioned on page 541.

Annuals, 8–45 (–70) cm; not notably aromatic. Stems 1–5+, usually erect, sometimes ascending, simple or branched mostly distally, sometimes proximally (then ascending). Leaf-blades 1560 (–80) × 5–28 mm. Heads discoid, 1–15+, borne singly or in open, corymbiform arrays. Peduncles 1–56 (–90) mm (glabrous or villosulous near heads, bracts 0–3, simple or 1-pinnate). Involucres 3.5–4.5 mm. Phyllaries 25–55+ in 3–4 series, margins erose. Receptacles 4.5–6.6 mm, rounded to obtuse or ± acute. Ray-florets 0. Discs ovoid to hemispheric, 5.5–12.5 × 6–14 mm. Disc-florets 400–750+; corollas greenish yellow, 1.2–1.7 mm (sparsely glandular), lobes 4. Cypselae tan to brownish, obtriangular-obconic (angular, abaxial faces rounded, adaxial faces slightly convex), 1–1.5 mm, ribs white (2 abaxial, 2 lateral, each with reddish-brown mucilage gland in distal 1/2, glands expanding into lobes, 1 adaxial, usually obscure, sometimes with a gland), faces not glandular; pappi coroniform, lobed (lobes 2, spreading, abaxio-lateral, ± obtuse to rounded). 2n = 18.


Phenology: Flowering spring–summer, fruiting summer–fall.
Habitat: Undisturbed alkali flats, vernal pools, edges of salt marshes
Elevation: 0–2400 m

Discussion

E. McClintock (1993b) reported Matricaria occidentalis as being used as a substitute for chamomile. In California, the species is found in the Coast Ranges to the South Coast, in parts of the San Joaquin Valley, and in the High Cascade, Sierra Nevada, and Desert Ranges and surrounding areas. Although listed as secure, the species appears to have been eradicated from some counties in California and its range may be shrinking due to disappearance of its habitat.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Matricaria occidentalis"
not tailed +  and obtuse +
scarious +
corymbiform +  and open +
indeterminate +  and determinate +
Luc Brouillet +
Greene +
decurrent +
compound +  and simple +
lobed;spatulate;oblong or ovate +
Valley mayweed +
zygomorphic +, actinomorphic +  and (3-)5-merous +
greenish yellow +
0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br /> (0.17 cm1.7 mm <br />0.0017 m <br />) +
winged +  and monomorphic +
tan +  and brownish +
obtriangular-obconic +
fertile +  and bisexual +
fertile +  and bisexual +
0.55 cm5.5 mm <br />0.0055 m <br /> (1.25 cm12.5 mm <br />0.0125 m <br />) +
ovoid;hemispheric +
6mm;14mm +
Calif. +  and Oreg. +
0–2400 m +
glabrous +, glabrate +  and sparsely hairy +
pistillate +, staminate +  and neuter +
winged +  and beaked +
dispersed +
Undisturbed alkali flats, vernal pools, edges of salt marshes +
discoid +  and radiate +
in open , corymbiform arrays +  and singly +
indeterminate +
heterogamous +  and homogamous +
each +  and sessile +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (1.4 cm14 mm <br />0.014 m <br />) +
patelliform +
0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br /> (0.45 cm4.5 mm <br />0.0045 m <br />) +
elliptic-ovate +
156 cm1,560 mm <br />1.56 m <br /> (8 cm80 mm <br />0.08 m <br />) +
1,560 cm15,600 mm <br />15.6 m <br /> (?) +
sessile +  and subpetiolate +
cauline +  and basal +
deltate +
entire +  and dentate +
2-carpellate +
persistent +
lobed +  and coroniform +
5.6 cm56 mm <br />0.056 m <br /> (9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br />) +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (5.6 cm56 mm <br />0.056 m <br />) +
Flowering spring–summer, fruiting summer–fall. +
25 +  and 55 +
Bull. Calif. Acad. Sci. +
bearing subulate enations +, hairy +  and bristly +
rounded;obtuse or more or less acute +
0.45 cm4.5 mm <br />0.0045 m <br /> (0.66 cm6.6 mm <br />0.0066 m <br />) +
exalbuminous +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
branched +  and simple +
ascending +  and erect +
glabrate +  and sparsely hairy +
1 +  and 5 +
appendaged +  and truncate +
papillate +
Chamomilla occidentalis +
Matricaria occidentalis +
Matricaria +
species +
urceolate +  and campanulate +
45 cm450 mm <br />0.45 m <br /> (70 cm700 mm <br />0.7 m <br />) +
8 cm80 mm <br />0.08 m <br /> (45 cm450 mm <br />0.45 m <br />) +
shrub +  and subshrub +