Micropus californicus

Fischer & C. A. Meyer

Index Seminum (St. Petersburg) 2: 42. 1836.

Common names: Slender cottonseed Q-tips
Illustrated
Synonyms: Bombycilaena californica (Fischer & C. A. Meyer) Holub
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 19. Treatment on page 455. Mentioned on page 454, 456.

Plants 1–50 cm. Heads depressed-spheric, 2–4 × 3–6 mm. Receptacles depressed-spheric, mostly 0.3–0.6 mm, heights 0.5–0.8 times diams. Pistillate paleae 4–7 (–8) in 1 series, longest 2–4 mm; wings obscure, withering, lateral, ± erect, narrowly oblanceolate, involute; bodies galeate, cartilaginous to bony throughout, sericeous to lanuginose. Staminate paleae 0. Staminate corollas 1–2 mm, lobes usually 5. Cypselae 1.4–2.6 mm, corolla scars ± median; pappi: staminate 0 or of 1, ± smooth bristle 0.9–1.5 mm.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Though common and often found on recent disturbances within its range, Micropus californicus does not appear to be particularly invasive or weedy. The mature pistillate paleae, with roughly the profile of a harp or of an inverted lower-case letter “q,” are distinctive. That shape and the accompanying dense, cottony indument of the common variety explain the vernacular names. By contrast, pistillate paleae of M. amphibolus have roughly the profile of a human head wearing a billed cap.

Within the more limited range of var. subvestitus, the two varieties are broadly sympatric, usually in separate populations, occasionally in mixed populations that sometimes include intermediate plants.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Pistillate paleae densely and loosely lanuginose, longest usually 3–4 mm Micropus californicus var. californicus
1 Pistillate paleae thinly sericeous-lanuginose, longest usually 2–3 mm Micropus californicus var. subvestitus

"sericeous" is not a number. "lanuginose" is not a number.

... more about "Micropus californicus"
truncate-penicillate;truncate +
scarious +
mostly ovate +  and lanceovate or linear +
racemiform +, paniculiform +  and corymbiform +
indeterminate +  and determinate +
James D. Morefield +
Fischer & C. A. Meyer +
decurrent +
compound +  and simple +
narrowly oblanceolate;elliptic +
muriculate +, papillate +  and smooth +
galeate +
cartilaginous +  and bony +
0.09 cm0.9 mm <br />9.0e-4 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
Slender cottonseed +  and Q-tips +
red-tipped +, purplish +, yellow +  and whitish +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
gibbous +, obovoid +  and compressed +
Calif. +, Oreg. +  and nw Mexico +
staminate +  and pistillate +
winged +  and beaked +
dispersed +
racemiform +  and paniculiform +
singly +  and dichasiform +
indeterminate +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
homogamous +  and heterogamous +
depressed-spheric +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
each +  and sessile +
inconspicuous +
sessile +  and petiolate +
rarely lanceovate +  and lanceolate +
2-carpellate +
staminate +  and pistillate +
erect +  and incurved +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
persistent +
of 1 , more or less smooth bristle +
subequal +  and unequal +
Index Seminum (St. Petersburg) +
paleate +  and epaleate +
0.5-0.8 times diams +
depressed-spheric +
0.03 cm0.3 mm <br />3.0e-4 m <br /> (0.06 cm0.6 mm <br />6.0e-4 m <br />) +
exalbuminous +
Illustrated +
5 (?) +  and 10 (?) +
ascending +  and erect +
2 +  and 5 +
appendaged +  and truncate +
papillate +
Bombycilaena californica +
Micropus californicus +
Micropus +
species +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (50 cm500 mm <br />0.5 m <br />) +
oblanceolate +