Microseris elegans

Greene ex A. Gray in A. Gray et al.

in A. Gray et al., Syn. Fl. N. Amer. 1(2): 419. 1884.

Common names: Elegant silverpuffs
Synonyms: Microseris aphantocarpha var. elegans (Greene ex A. Gray) Jepson
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 19. Treatment on page 346. Mentioned on page 339, 345.

Annuals, 5–35 cm; taprooted. Stems 0. Leaves basal; petiolate; blades linear to narrowly oblanceolate, 2–20 cm, margins entire, dentate, or pinnately lobed, apices acuminate, faces glabrous or lightly scurfy-puberulent. Peduncles erect or curved-ascending, ebracteate. Involucres globose to ovoid in fruit, 4–8 (–10) mm. Phyllaries: apices acute to acuminate, faces glabrous; outer deltate; inner lanceolate (midveins often purple, thickened). Florets 5–100; corollas yellow or orange, equaling or surpassing phyllaries by 1–2 mm. Cypselae columnar to obconic, 1.5–3 mm; pappi of (4–) 5 white or brownish, ovate to deltate, aristate scales 0.2–2.5 mm (straight or slightly arcuate, scarcely involute, glabrous, midveins linear, widths less than 1/5 bodies, thicker at base), aristae (brown, fine) barbellulate. 2n = 18.


Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Mostly clay soils, flats and hillsides, often near vernal pools, grasslands, shrublands
Elevation: 10–700 m

Distribution

V19-539-distribution-map.gif

Calif., Mexico (Baja California)

Discussion

Microseris elegans is widespread in interior central California, becoming coastal in the southwestern part of its range. It was hypothesized to be one of the diploid ancestors of M. campestris (K. L. Chambers 1955); molecular evidence supporting that relationship was presented by D. Roelofs et al. (1997).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"fine" is not a number.

... more about "Microseris elegans"
acute;acuminate +
scarious +
ovate +  and lanceolate +
paniculiform +  and corymbiform +
indeterminate +  and determinate +
Kenton L. Chambers +
Greene ex A. Gray in A. Gray et al. +
decurrent +
compound +  and simple +
linear;narrowly oblanceolate +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br />) +
tuberculate +, rugose +, muricate +  and smooth +
filiform +
Elegant silverpuffs +
zygomorphic +, actinomorphic +  and (3-)5-merous +
orange +  and yellow +
surpassing phyllaries +  and equaling +
purplish-spotted +, gray +  and brown or purplish +
columnar +  and obconic +
Calif. +  and Mexico (Baja California) +
10–700 m +
glabrous +  and scurfy-puberulent +
winged +  and beaked +
dispersed +
Mostly clay soils, flats and hillsides, often near vernal pools, grasslands, shrublands +
indeterminate +
each +  and sessile +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
globose;ovoid +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
lobed +  and dentate +
2-carpellate +
brownish +  and white +
persistent +
ovate +  and deltate +
curved-ascending +  and erect +
Flowering Apr–Jun. +
connate +  and distinct +
5 +  and 40 +
in A. Gray et al., Syn. Fl. N. Amer. +
flat;low-convex +
10 +  and 15 +
linear +, orbiculate +, ovate +, oblong +, lanceolate +  and deltate +
silvery;yellowish brownish or blackish +
5 +  and 30 +
aristate +
0.02 cm0.2 mm <br />2.0e-4 m <br /> (0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br />) +
exalbuminous +
many-branched +  and simple +
scurfy +  and glabrous +
few +, 1 +  and 30 +
appendaged +  and truncate +
papillate +
Microseris aphantocarpha var. elegans +
Microseris elegans +
Microseris +
species +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (35 cm350 mm <br />0.35 m <br />) +
shrub +  and subshrub +