Asteraceae tribe Astereae
Baccharis
baccharis, false willow, groundsel-tree
(1–20+) usually erect or ascending, rarely prostrate (usually striate-angled, rarely terete and smooth; usually green), glabrous, glabrate, hispidulous, or villous, often resinous.
usually cauline, sometimes mostly basal; alternate [opposite, whorled]; usually petiolate, sometimes sessile;
margins entire or dentate to pinnatifid (often gland-dotted, especially in xerophytes).
cauline (sometimes withering and sparse or absent at flowering); alternate;
sessile or petiolate;
blades 1- or 3-nerved, linear, lanceolate, ovate, oblong, obovate, or rhombic (usually reduced distally), margins entire or coarsely serrate, faces usually glabrous, rarely hispidulous or villous, often gland-dotted and resinous.
cylindric to campanulate or hemispheric, 3–9 mm diam.
usually flat to conic, sometimes concave, usually epaleate, rarely paleate (often foveolate, socket margins often fimbrillate; paleate in Eastwoodia and Rigiopappus).
flat, tholiform, or conic, pitted or smooth (glabrous, tomentose, or glandular), usually epaleate.
0 or in 1(–2+) series, usually pistillate, rarely neuter or styliferous and sterile;
corollas usually yellow, cyanic, or white (laminae sometimes very reduced, e.g., Conyza spp.).
20–150;
corollas whitish, filiform-tubular, lobes 5, spreading-reflexed, ± deltate to lance-ovate;
style branches (glabrate, flattened), appendages lacking.
0 or (in disciform heads) in 1–3+ series;
corollas usually present, usually yellow, sometimes white, ochroleucous, or reddish to cyanic.
persistent or falling, usually in 3–5+ series (usually in spirals, sometimes in vertical ranks), distinct, unequal, and herbaceous to chartaceous or scarious or margins and/or apices notably scarious, sometimes in 1–2 series, distinct, subequal, and herbaceous with margins and/or apices barely to notably scarious.
20–40 in 2–5 series (mid usually green, sometimes red or purple), 1-nerved, ovate to lanceolate, unequal, margins usually scarious, often erose or ciliate, sometimes keeled (midribs evident or not, apices obtuse to acute or acuminate, sometimes keeled), usually glabrous, rarely hispid.
0.
homogamous (discoid; unisexual in Baccharis) or heterogamous (disciform or radiate), usually in corymbiform, paniculiform, racemiform, or spiciform arrays, sometimes borne singly.
(sessile or pedicellate, unisexual) discoid, usually in paniculiform or corymbiform, sometimes racemiform arrays or borne singly.
monomorphic or dimorphic within heads, usually ± columnar to prismatic and 5-ribbed, sometimes compressed and 2-ribbed, rarely beaked, bodies smooth, muricate, ribbed, or rugulose (glabrous or hairy, hairs often glandular);
pappi (rarely 0) usually persistent, usually of barbellulate to barbellate bristles in (1–)2–3+ series, sometimes of scales (scales sometimes aristate), rarely of both scales and bristles or of awns.
light brown, obovoid to cylindric, ± compressed, 5–10-nerved, glabrous or hispid;
pappi persistent or falling, of 25–50 whitish to tawny, rarely brownish (elongating and usually surpassing phyllaries in fruit), minutely barbellate, apically attenuate bristles in 1–3 series.
(inner) florets usually bisexual and fertile, rarely functionally staminate (e.g., Benitoa);
corollas usually yellow, sometimes white, ochroleucous, or cyanic, actinomorphic, not 2-lipped, lobes (4–)5;
anther bases obtuse or rounded, not tailed, apical appendages usually triangular to linear, sometimes none;
styles abaxially glabrous and smooth or papillate (distally), branches ± linear, adaxially stigmatic in 2 lines from bases to apices or appendages, appendages usually deltate to lanceolate (abaxially papillate to hispidulous, adaxially smooth, glabrous).
staminate florets 10–50;
corollas white to pale yellow, tubes about equal to narrowly funnelform throats, lobes 5, spreading-reflexed, deltate to lance-ovate (pappi of 20–40 equal, often crisped and minutely barbellate or distally plumose bristles).
= 9.
Asteraceae tribe Astereae
Baccharis
Almost worldwide; mostly temperate
Mostly New World tropics and warm-temperate regions; especially diverse in South America
Genera 170, species 2800+ (77 genera, 719 species in the flora).
The classification and phylogeny of tribe Astereae has been the object of recent work, both morphologic (K. Bremer 1994; G. L. Nesom 1994, 2000) and molecular (notably the seminal paper by R. D. Noyes and L. H. Rieseberg 1999). Noyes and Rieseberg showed that most genera present in North America belong to a single monophyletic clade, called the North American clade. A series of subsequent studies done in various generic groups or subtribes led to a redefinition of many genera (see literature cited in each genus) and to the transfer of species between genera. The current treatment of the tribe reflects much of these novelties, many presented in a floristic work for the first time. Nesom and H. Robinson (unpubl.) present a worldwide overview of the classification of the tribe.
Large genera such as Erigeron, Symphyotrichum, and Solidago all originated on the continent and subsequently spread to Eurasia or South America. A few genera entered North America from neighboring continents, such as Aster in the strict sense (from Eurasia) or Baccharis (from Central America). A majority of Astereae genera in the flora of North America are endemic to the continent (more so if Mexico were included).
The generic order of the present treatment attempts to reflect the phylogenetic relationships established in recent molecular phylogenetic work.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Species 350–450 (21 in the flora).
Baccharis comprises mostly dioecious shrubs with gland-dotted leaves and is sister to the polygamo-dioecious genera Archibaccharis and Heterothalamus. Sections have been delimited within Baccharis (e.g., D. A. Giuliano 2001; Giuliano and G. L. Nesom 2003; Nesom 1990h, 1998). Species of Baccharis often occur in wet sites such as stream banks, washes, ditches, and marshes. Useful taxonomic characters include habit, branching structure, leaf shape, size, margins, and vestiture, arrangement of heads, and number of nerves on cypselae. Collectors should try to collect both staminate and pistillate individuals to facilitate identification.
Hybridization and introgression have been found between Baccharis halimifolia and B. neglecta, and between B. halimifolia and B. angustifolia. Intermediates between B. thesioides and B. bigelovii have been collected in southern Arizona.
Baccharis is of little economic importance, except for species that are invasive or toxic to livestock (P. E. Boldt 1989). Baccharis is not generally palatable to cattle; it could become the only forage available as a result of overgrazing. In the southwestern United States, B. pteronioides is a hazard to cattle; B. halimifolia, B. angustifolia, and B. glomeruliflora cause similar problems in the eastern United States (G. E. Burrows and R. J. Tyrl 2001). Baccharis pilularis invades overgrazed or eroded rangelands in California and Oregon. Baccharis halimifolia has been introduced in Australia, infesting large areas along the eastern coast, prompting the search for biological control agents (Boldt).
Neomolina F. H. Hellwig is an illegitimate, later homonym that has been applied to species included here in Baccharis.
In key leads, references to pappi are to pappi on cypselae (i.e., in pistillate heads).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Key to Genera of Tribe Astereae
1. Trees, shrubs (sometimes clambering, sprawling, or vinelike), or subshrubs | Key A |
1. Annuals, biennials, or perennials | → 2 |
2. Annuals or biennials | Key B |
2. Perennials | Key C |
Key A Trees, shrubs (sometimes clambering, sprawling, or vinelike), or subshrubs
1. Phyllaries unequal and disposed in vertical ranks | → 2 |
1. Phyllaries equal or unequal and disposed in spirals | → 7 |
2. Heads radiate | → 3 |
2. Heads discoid | → 4 |
3. Leaves cauline, blades 1-nerved (sometimes with 1–2 fainter lateral pairs) | Chrysoma |
3. Leaves basal and cauline, blades 3–5-nerved (veins raised, parallel) | Petradoria |
4. Leaves basal and cauline, blades 3-nerved; heads in glomerate clusters grouped in flat-topped, corymbiform arrays; phyllaries yellowish, sometimes green distally | Bigelowia |
4. Leaves cauline, blades 1-nerved (sometimes with 1–2 fainter lateral pairs); heads (sometimes clustered) in paniculiform, corymbiform, or cymiform arrays, or borne singly; phyllaries stramineous, tan, or green, green or purplish distally | → 5 |
5. Leaf faces gland-dotted (in pits); heads in dense, cymiform arrays | Chrysoma |
5. Leaf faces gland-dotted (sessile) or stipitate-glandular; heads borne singly or in condensed, cymiform clusters, grouped in paniculiform or corymbiform arrays, or in congested, cymiform to corymbiform arrays | → 6 |
6. Heads in congested, cymiform to corymbiform arrays; disc florets 4–15; cypselae oblong to obconic | Lorandersonia |
6. Heads borne singly or in condensed, cymiform clusters grouped in paniculiform or corymbiform arrays; disc florets (2–)5–6(–40); cypselae subcylindric | Chrysothamnus |
7. Trees, shrubs (sometimes clambering, sprawling, or vinelike) | → 8 |
7. Subshrubs | → 19 |
8. Plants unisexual, often glutinous; heads discoid | Baccharis |
8. Plants bisexual, sometimes glutinous, gland-dotted, or stipitate-glandular; heads radiate, discoid, or disciform | → 9 |
9. Heads discoid or disciform | → 10 |
9. Heads radiate | → 14 |
10. Heads disciform (pistillate florets 4–9), in compact glomerules grouped in terminal corymbiform arrays; disc corollas orange-yellow; pappi 0, or minute crowns | Gymnosperma |
10. Heads discoid, borne singly, or in clusters grouped in cymiform or racemiform arrays, or in cymiform, spiciform, racemiform, paniculiform, or corymbiform arrays; disc corollas yellow or white; pappi of scales or bristles | → 11 |
11. Cypselae 3–4-angled, strigoso-sericeous; pappi of (5–8) linear-lanceolate scales | Eastwoodia |
11. Cypselae prismatic, terete, subterete, or compressed, glabrous or ± densely hairy; pappi of bristles | → 12 |
12. Stems not resinous; leaves entire or toothed (teeth sometimes bristly); heads usually in spiciform, racemiform, narrowly paniculiform, or corymbiform arrays, rarely borne singly;phyllaries not resinous; pappi reddish brown | Hazardia |
12. Stems resinous; leaves entire; heads borne singly or in clusters (at branch tips), and/or in usually cymiform or racemiform, sometimes paniculiform or thyrsiform arrays; phyllaries resinous; pappi whitish tan to reddish | → 13 |
13. Leaves filiform, linear, lanceolate, or spatulate (adaxially sulcate, concave or plane), margins sometimes undulate or crisped; heads borne singly or in usually cymiform or racemiform, sometimes paniculiform or thyrsiform arrays; involucres hemispheric or obconic; disc florets 4–70, corolla lobes equal (cypselae 2–10 mm) | Ericameria |
13. Leaves filiform, margins flat or involute; heads in clusters at branch tips, grouped in cymiform or racemiform arrays; involucres turbinate; disc florets 3–7, corolla lobes unequal (cypselae 1–3 mm) | Gundlachia |
14. Shrubs clambering, sprawling, or vinelike; rays pale rose-purple to pale pink (Atlantic coastal plain) | Ampelaster |
14. Shrubs not clambering, sprawling, or vinelike; rays yellow or white | → 15 |
15. Plants spinescent (at least with age); corollas yellow | → 16 |
15. Plants not spinescent; corollas white or yellow | → 17 |
16. Leaves sometimes in axillary fascicles; heads borne singly or in loose, corymbiform arrays; ray florets 5–14; disc florets 13–80, bisexual, fertile; pappi of barbellate scales | Acamptopappus |
16. Leaves not in axillary fascicles; heads (2–4) in glomerate clusters, these grouped in corymbiform arrays; ray florets 1–2; disc florets 3–7, functionally staminate; pappi of flattened bristles (those of discs sometimes undulate to twisted) | Amphipappus |
17. Leaves entire or toothed (teeth sometimes bristly; bases clasping or subclasping); heads usually in racemiform, narrowly paniculiform, or corymbiform arrays, rarely borne singly; phyllaries in 5–9 series; cypselae fusiform to deltoid, 4–5-nerved; pappi reddish brown | Hazardia |
17. Leaves entire (bases not clasping); heads borne singly or in cymiform or racemiform (sometimes paniculiform or thyrsiform) arrays; phyllaries in 3–6+ series; cypselae ellipsoid to obconic or obovoid, ± 5–12-ribbed or -nerved; pappi whitish tan to reddish | → 18 |
18. Involucres hemispheric, obconic, or cylindric; disc corolla lobes equal; cypselae prismatic | Ericameria |
18. Involucres turbinate; disc corolla lobes unequal; cypselae± turbinate | Neonesomia |
19. Plants unisexual; heads discoid | Baccharis |
19. Plants bisexual; heads radiate, disciform, or discoid | → 20 |
20. Heads disciform or discoid | → 21 |
20. Heads radiate | → 26 |
21. Stems eglandular; leaves entire | → 22 |
21. Stems gland-dotted or stipitate-glandular; leaves entire, toothed, or pinnatifid | → 23 |
22. Heads borne singly or in cymiform-racemiform arrays; involucres 11–15(–17) mm; florets 4–7; cypselae oblong, 5–6-ribbed, glabrous | Cuniculotinus |
22. Heads borne singly in cymiform arrays; involucres 5–7 mm; florets 12–25+; cypselae narrowly oblong, 8–13-nerved (per face), ± sericeous | Arida |
23. Heads borne singly (at tips of branches) or in corymbiform arrays; cypselae dimorphic (ray ± 3-sided, disc compressed) | Xanthisma |
23. Heads usually in spiciform, racemiform, corymbiform, or cymiform arrays, rarely borne singly; cypselae monomorphic (terete, subterete, or compresssed) | → 24 |
24. Involucres broadly urceolate to hemispheric or globose; phyllaries usually looped to hooked, usually resinous | Grindelia |
24. Involucres campanulate, obconic, turbinate, or cylindric; phyllaries not hooped or hooked, not resinous | → 25 |
25. Basal leaves persistent; heads in compact clusters grouped in corymbiform arrays; involucres 3–9.5 mm; disc corollas goblet-shaped (tubes elongating, elevating throats above involucres at flowering); cypselae obpyramidal, 5–11-ribbed (ribs sometimes thick and resinous), sericeous | Isocoma |
25. Basal leaves withering by flowering; heads in spiciform, racemiform, or cymiform arrays; involucres 11–13 mm; disc corollas ± tubular (tubes not elevating throats); cypselae fusiform to deltoid, 4–5-nerved, glabrous | Hazardia |
26. Rays white, light blue, or purple | → 27 |
26. Rays yellow (sometimes drying red-purple) | → 32 |
27. Plants often thorny (thorns green); leaves usually entire, rarely 1–2-denticulate; heads borne singly or in loose, corymbo-paniculiform arrays; involucres 4.5–7.5 mm; rays white; disc corolla veins orange, resinous | Chloracantha |
27. Plants not thorny; leaves entire, dentate or serrate (teeth spinulose); heads borne singly or in corymbiform arrays; involucres 6–20 mm; rays white, light blue, or purple; disc corolla veins not orange-resinous | → 28 |
28. Cypselae 7–10-nerved, glabrous (Animas River Basin, n New Mexico,s Colorado) | Herrickia |
28. Cypselae 2–7-nerved or -ribbed, hairy | → 29 |
29. Cypselae dimorphic (ray 3-sided, disc compressed), obovoid or oblong | Xanthisma |
29. Cypselae monomorphic (compressed or terete), ovoid, fusiform, cuneiform, or linear | → 30 |
30. Cypselae flattened, 2–(3–4)-nerved; pappi of outer, shorter bristles orscales plus inner, longer bristles | Ionactis |
30. Cypselae ± compressed or not, 4–7-ribbed; pappi of ± unequal bristles (outer not in notably distinct series) | → 31 |
31. Stems glabrous or villous to tomentose, sometimes stipitate-glandular; phyllaries keeled; ray florets bisexual, fertile; cypselae ovoid, fusiform, or linear, 4-nerved, sericeous | Xylorhiza |
31. Stems usually densely white-tomentose, sometimes glabrate or ± stipitate-glandular distally; phyllaries flat; ray florets neuter; cypselae cuneiform or linear, 5–7-ribbed, puberulent to pilose | Corethrogyne |
32. Phyllaries in vertical ranks; heads congested or glomerate, usually in corymbiform or cymiform, sometimes spiciform, arrays | → 33 |
32. Phyllaries in spirals; heads borne singly, 3–6, or glomerate, in flat-topped or multi-storied, corymbiform arrays, or in ± loose corymbiform, racemiform, narrowly paniculiform, or spiciform arrays | → 34 |
33. Leaves basal and cauline (not crowded), 3–5-nerved (veins parallel, raised); heads in glomerules in corymbiform arrays; ray florets 1–3; disc florets functionally staminate, corolla lobes lanceolate; cypselae cylindric, plump orslightly compressed | Petradoria |
33. Leaves cauline (often crowded), usually 1-nerved, sometimes with 1–2 collateral pairs; heads in congested cymiform or corymbiform arrays; ray florets (1–)6–8; disc florets bisexual, fertile; cypselae oblong to obconic or prismatic | Lorandersonia |
34. Involucres usually broadly urceolate, globose, or hemispheric; phyllaries filiform to linear, apices often looped or hooked, faces usually ± resinous | Grindelia |
34. Involucres cylindro-turbinate, turbinate, obconic, campanulate, or hemispheric; phyllaries ovate, lanceolate, oblanceolate, or lanceolate to linear, apices straight or recurved (not looped or hooked), faces sometimes gland-dotted (not resinous). | → 35 |
35. Basal leaves pinnatifid (lobes bristle-tipped); pappi of setiform scales (or basally flattened bristles) | Xanthisma |
35. Basal leaves not pinnatifid; pappi of bristles and/or scales | → 36 |
36. Pappi of scales | Gutierrezia |
36. Pappi of bristles, or of outer, shorter scales plus inner, longer bristles | → 37 |
37. Stems prostrate to erect, mat-forming, branched; leaves cauline (crowded); heads borne singly | Nestotus |
37. Stems erect, not mat-forming, branched or simple; leaves basal and cauline or mostly cauline (then not crowded); heads in spiciform, racemiform, corymbiform, or cymiform arrays, or glomerate and/or pedunculate-solitary in flat-topped or multi-storied, corymbiform arrays | → 38 |
38. Plants rhizomatous; heads usually glomerate, sometimes pedunculate-solitary, in flat-topped or multi-storied, corymbiform arrays | Euthamia |
38. Plants taprooted or fibrous-rooted; heads not glomerate, in spiciform, racemiform, corymbiform, subumbelliform, paniculiform, or cymiform arrays | → 39 |
39. Leaves densely short-woolly (hairs flagelliform); heads in subumbelliform to paniculiform arrays; pappi of outer, triangular scales plus inner bristles in (2–)3 series; e North America | Chrysopsis |
39. Leaves glabrous, sparsely puberulent or stipitate-glandular, or scabroso-hispidulous (hairs not flagelliform); heads in spiciform, racemiform, corymbiform, or cymiform arrays, sometimes borne singly; pappi of unequal bristles in 1–4 series; w North America | → 40 |
40. Leaves basal and cauline, margins entire; involucres cylindro-turbinate; ray florets 5–8; cypselae narrowly oblong, 8-nerved, moderately strigose | Columbiadoria |
40. Leaves mostly cauline, margins serrate (teeth bristle-tipped); involucres campanulate; ray florets 5–18; cypselae fusiform to deltoid, 4–5-nerved, glabrous | Hazardia |
Key B Annuals or biennials
1. Heads discoid or disciform (sometimes radiant) | → 2 |
1. Heads radiate | → 11 |
2. Heads discoid | → 3 |
2. Heads disciform | → 7 |
3. Pappi of (1–)2–10 setiform to subulate scales | → 4 |
3. Pappi 0, or of 3–55 bristles | → 5 |
4. Plants eglandular; heads sessile or subsessile, in secund, spiciform arrays | Thurovia |
4. Plants usually gland-dotted and/or vernicose; heads usually in corymbiform arrays, rarely borne singly | Grindelia |
5. Plants (gracile) 2–14 cm; leaves (linear to filiform) entire; pappi 0, or of (3–)5 bristles or setiform scales | Pentachaeta |
5. Plants (1–)2–100 cm; leaves entire, toothed, or pinnately lobed; pappi of 3–55 bristles | → 6 |
6. Leaf adaxial faces glabrous, puberulent, or canescent; involucres turbinate; phyllaries usually spreading to reflexed, rarely appressed; corollas yellow (limbs of peripheral florets not expanded); pappus bristles white to tawny, distinct | Dieteria |
6. Leaf adaxial faces sparsely tomentose to woolly; involucres hemispheric, obconic, campanulate, or narrowly cylindric; phyllaries erect or recurved; corollas white, pink, lavender, or yellow (limbs of peripheral florets freqently palmately expanded, heads ± radiant); pappus bristles tan to reddish, distinct or connate | Lessingia |
7. Annuals (eglandular); disc corollas without prominent orange veins, style appendages lanceolate or linear | → 8 |
7. Biennials or annuals (usually gland-dotted or stipitate-glandular, sometimes eglandular, in Conyza); disc corollas sometimes with prominent orange veins (Conyza, Erigeron), style appendages deltate | → 9 |
8. Heads borne singly; peripheral pistillate (or reduced ray) florets in 1 series; pappi 0, or of (3–)5 bristles or subulate scales (not surpassing corollas at flowering); grassy areas, chaparral, California | Pentachaeta |
8. Heads in paniculiform arrays (borne singly in small plants); peripheral pistillate florets in 2+ series; pappi of (20–)25–40(–55) bristles (surpassing corollas at flowering); ± saline habitats, edges of ponds, irrigation ditches, salted road-sides, saltmarshes; Rocky Mountains eastward | Symphyotrichum |
9. Biennials; stems ascending; heads borne singly (at ends of branches), disc corolla throats somewhat inflated, white-indurate; pappi of outer, shorter setae plus 15–20 inner, barbellate bristles | Erigeron |
9. Annuals; stems erect; heads usually in corymbiform, paniculiform or racemiform arrays, rarely borne singly; disc corollas narrowly funnelform (throats neither inflated nor indurate); pappi of 10–30 barbellate bristles | → 10 |
10. Leaf faces often stipitate-glandular or gland-dotted; phyllaries lacking orange to brown midnerves; cypselae densely sericeous, ± strigillose, or glabrous, often stipitate-glandular and/or gland-dotted | Laënnecia |
10. Leaf faces eglandular; phyllaries with orange to brownish midnerves; cypselae glabrous or strigillose, eglandular | Conyza |
11. Rays usually yellow or orange, sometimes cream, whitish, or white | → 12 |
11. Rays white, pink, purple, or blue | → 25 |
12. Pappi usually 0, or coroniform, or of scales, rarely of relatively short bristles (Xanthocephalum) | → 13 |
12. Pappi of bristles, or of outer, shorter setae or scales plus inner, longer bristles, or of outer bristles plus inner, subulate to setiform scales | → 17 |
13. Stems and leaves eglandular; phyllaries subequal (± navicular, inner usually each ± enfolding floret); receptacles sparsely paleate between ray and disc florets (paleae resembling phyllaries); ray corollas yellowish, often tinged with red or purple (laminae inconspicuous); disc corolla lobes 2–4 | Rigiopappus |
13. Stems and leaves (at least partly) stipitate-glandular; phyllaries unequal (not navicular nor each enfolding floret); receptacles epaleate; ray corollas yellow to orange-yellow or occasionally suffused with red (laminae conspicuous); disc corolla lobes 5 | → 14 |
14. Disc corollas abruptly ampliate, throats usually campanulate, sometimes funnelform | → 15 |
14. Disc corollas not abruptly ampliate, throats funnelform or cylindric | → 16 |
15. Cypselae terete or slightly compressed with rounded edges or 4–6-sided, without prominent nerves, glabrous or slightly strigose; pappi of rays 0, outer discs 0 or minute crowns, inner 0, or usually of scales, rarely bristles; Arizona, Texas | Xanthocephalum |
15. Cypselae ± triquetrous, 3-nerved, sericeous; pappi of 2–8 subulate, barbellate scales; California | Benitoa |
16. Leaves not glutinous; heads in paniculiform or corymbiform arrays; phyllaries glutinous; disc florets functionally staminate | Amphiachyris |
16. Leaves glutinous; heads borne singly or in clusters of 3–6; phyllaries not glutinous; disc florets bisexual, fertile | Gutierrezia |
17. Stems and leaves usually gland-dotted and/or resinous; involucres usually globose to hemispheric or broadly urceolate, sometimes campanulate or obconic; phyllaries hooked, looped, patent, recurved, straight, or incurved | Grindelia |
17. Stems and leaves usually not resinous, sometimes gland-dotted or stipitate-glandular; involucres hemispheric, campanulate, turbinate, obconic, or cylindric; phyllaries appressed, spreading, reflexed, or recurved | → 18 |
18. Cypselae dimorphic (rays often ± 3-angled, discs ± compressed) | → 19 |
18. Cypselae monomorphic (all ± compressed or all ± 3-angled) | → 21 |
19. Biennials; stems strigose and/or hispid, stipitate-glandular; pappi of rays 0, of discs of outer scales plus 30–45 inner bristles | Heterotheca |
19. Annuals or biennials; stems glabrous or hispid, gland-dotted or stipitate-glandular; pappi of basally flattened bristles (or setiform scales) in 2–4 series | → 20 |
20. Heads borne singly or in corymbiform arrays (peduncles not cobwebby); involucres 4–10 mm; disc corolla throats gradually ampliate, ± funnelform; style-branch appendages lanceolate | Xanthisma |
20. Heads borne singly or (2–3) in paniculiform or subcorymbiform-cymiform arrays (peduncles often cobwebby); involucres 7–16 mm; disc corolla throats abruptly ampliate, funnelform; style-branch appendages deltate | Rayjacksonia |
21. Stems glabrous or glabrate, eglandular; cauline leaves narrowly oblanceolate, linear, or filiform, margins entire, ciliate, faces glabrous or glabrate, eglandular; heads borne singly (at ends of branches); phyllaries not thickened or keeled; rays yellow and often reddish or purplish-tinged | → 22 |
21. Stems ± hispid, pilose, woolly or arachnose, sometimes glabrous, stipitate-glandular or eglandular; cauline leaves ovate, oblanceolate, elliptic, lanceolate, or linear, margins entire, serrate, or apically dentate, sometimes coarsely ciliate, faces usually hairy, sometimes glabrous, sometimes stipitate-glandular; heads borne singly or in corymbiform, subumbelliform, or paniculiform arrays; phyllaries thickened or keeled; ray florets yellow to yellow-orange | → 23 |
22. Involucres campanulate to turbinate; phyllaries equal or subequal; cypselae oblanceoloid, 3–5-nerved, not beaked; pappus bristles (3–)5–20 (usually in multiples of 5) in 1 series | Pentachaeta |
22. Involucres ± cylindric to turbinate or obconic; phyllaries unequal; cypselae ± fusifom, 5-nerved, beaked; pappus bristles (12–)30–40 in (1–)2 series (outer shorter) | Tracyina |
23. Biennials, stems arachnose to woolly or glabrous, often stipitate-glandular; heads in corymbiform, subumbelliform, or paniculiform arrays; pappus bristles relatively fine (mainly Florida, Atlantic coastal plain) | Chrysopsis |
23. Annuals, stems sparsely hispid or pilose, sometimes stipitate-glandular; heads borne singly or in loose paniculiform arrays; pappus bristles relatively thick and rigid, outer sometimes scalelike | → 24 |
24. Leaves 1-nerved, faces hispido-pilose; involucres campanulate, 6–9 mm; phyllaries linear, sparsely stipitate-glandular; cypselae obconic, compressed, smooth or slightly ribbed; Gulf coastal plain, Mississippi embayment, adjacent lowlands | Bradburia |
24. Leaves 3-nerved (nerves ± parallel), faces thin-arachnose (in minute, abaxial lacunae); involucres narrowly turbinate to subcylindric, 4–8 mm; phyllaries lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, eglandular; cypselae turbinate, terete to weakly angled, 6–14-nerved; sc United States, adjacent Mexico | Croptilon |
25. Receptacles conic; pappi 0, or coroniform, or of scales | → 26 |
25. Receptacles flat to convex; pappi usually of bristles (sometimes only discs or rays), or of setiform scales, or of bristles plus scales, or toothed cups with 1 bristle, sometimes of scales, or coroniform, or 0 | → 30 |
26. Leaves usually pinnatifid to dentate, sometimes entire; rays without midstripe abaxially; cypselae not or slightly compressed, glabrous or sparsely strigose (hairs not glochidiform); pappi cartilaginous crowns, or crowns of scales or setae, or 0 | → 27 |
26. Leaves usually entire, sometimes dentate or lobed; rays usually with pink or purplish midstripe abaxially; cypselae strongly compressed or flattened, glabrous or hairy (hairs glochidiform); pappi usually of awns, scales, bristles, or 2-horned crowns, sometimes 0 | → 28 |
27. Plants gland-dotted; cypselae oblong to narrowly obovoid, slightly compressed, 2-nerved, sometimes gland-dotted | Egletes |
27. Plants eglandular; cypselae columnar to prismatic, usually 4-angled, 4–12-ribbed (ribs relatively thick), eglandular | Aphanostephus |
28. Phyllaries in 4–6+ series, unequal; pappi of 12–35+ lanceolate or subulate to setiform scales | Townsendia |
28. Phyllaries in 2(–3) series, subequal; pappi 0, or crowns of setae or scales, or of 2 long plus ring of shorter awns | → 29 |
29. Leaves spatulate-obovate (basal), narrower distally; cypsela margins ribbed; pappi 0, or crowns of setae or scales | Astranthium |
29. Leaves oblanceolate; cypsela margins winglike; pappi of 2 long plususually ring of shorter awns | Dichaetophora |
30. Disc corollas with orange-resinous veins | → 31 |
30. Disc corolla veins not orange-resinous | → 34 |
31. Heads borne singly; pappi crowns (sometimes each with 1 bristle) or of alternating scales and bristles | → 32 |
31. Heads usually in corymbiform or paniculiform arrays, sometimes borne singly; pappi of bristles, or of outer, shorter setae or scales plus inner, longer bristles | → 33 |
32. Phyllaries in 2–6 series, unequal; pappi hyaline crowns (nearly 0) oralternating bristles and scales | Chaetopappa |
32. Phyllaries in 1(–2) series, equal; pappi toothed crowns plus 1 distallyplumose bristle, or of 1–12 bristles alternating with scales | Monoptilon |
33. Disc corolla throats slightly indurate and inflated; pappi usually of outer setae or scales plus 10–30 inner bristles, sometimes 0 | Erigeron |
33. Disc corolla throats not indurate or inflated; pappi of 15–25+ bristles in 1 series | Conyza |
34. Pappi of 12–35+ scales | Townsendia |
34. Pappi of 5–80+ bristles or setiform scales | → 35 |
35. Pappus bristles usually 5, rarely 0 | Pentachaeta |
35. Pappus bristles or setiform scales usually 20–80+ (ray sometimes 0) | → 36 |
36. Stems glabrous or hairy in lines distally, sometimes stipitate-glandular distally; leaf margins entire, subserrate, serrate, or pinnately lobed; heads usually in paniculiform or corymbiform arrays, sometimes borne singly | → 37 |
36. Stems hairy or glabrous, sometimes stipitate-glandular; leaf margins entire, serrate, dentate, laciniate, lobed, or ± deeply 1–2-pinnatifid (teeth or lobes apiculate, bristly, or spiny); heads borne singly (at ends of branches) or in cymiform or corymbiform arrays | → 38 |
37. Stems distally stipitate-glandular; cauline leaf bases clasping to subclasping, margins entire, coarsely toothed, or pinnately lobed, faces appressed-hairy or glabrous (distal stipitate-glandular); heads in corymbiform arrays; involucres broadly turbinate to hemispheric; phyllaries herbaceous distally, stipitate-glandular; ray florets 20–70 in 1 series, corollas white, blue, or purple; pappi: rays 0, discs of bristles | Psilactis |
37. Stems eglandular; cauline leaf bases attenuate, cuneate, or rounded, margins entire or serrulate, faces glabrous, eglandular; heads in paniculiform arrays; involucres cylindro-campanulate, cylindric, or turbinate; phyllaries with distinct green zones distally, eglandular; ray florets 16–54 in 1–3 series, or 90–110 in 4–5 series, corollas white, pink, or lavender; pappi of bristles | Symphyotrichum |
38. Leaves deeply 1–2-pinnatifid, at least many lobes or teeth acute and bristly | Machaeranthera |
38. Leaves entire or toothed or lobed, if 1–2-pinnatifid, teeth or lobes often rounded, sometimes apiculate, mostly not bristly | → 39 |
39. Plants hairy, sometimes stipitate-glandular; leaves entire or toothed; ray pappi of 40–50 bristles | Dieteria |
39. Plants glabrous and leaves entire or toothed (ciliate or teeth bristle-tipped or apiculate), or plants hairy, sometimes stipitate-glandular, and leaves 1–2-pinnatifid; ray pappi usually 0 (if 20–30 bristles, leaves 1–2-pinnatifid) | Arida |
Key C Perennials
1. Heads discoid or disciform | → 2 |
1. Heads radiate | → 18 |
2. Heads disciform | → 3 |
2. Heads discoid | → 5 |
3. Cauline leaf margins entire or spinulose-serrate; heads borne singly or 2–3 in ± corymbiform arrays; cypselae subcylindric-fusiform, 3–4-angled, ± compressed, with 10–12 faint nerves; pappi of 15–60 rigid, unequal, smooth bristles in 1 series | Pyrrocoma |
3. Cauline leaf margins entire, dentate, or pinnatifid (lobed); heads in corymbiform arrays; cypselae oblong or oblong-obovoid to elliptic or obovoid, ± compressed or flattened, 2(–4)-nerved or ± nerved on edges; pappi of outer setae or scales plus 5–40 bristles, or of 30–40+ bristles in 2 series (outer usually shorter) | → 4 |
4. Plants ± densely white-tomentose (at least some surfaces); phyllaries 1-nerved, nerves not golden-resinous; disc corollas yellowish, throats narrowly funnelform, not indurate, veins light, not resinous; pappi of 30–40+ bristles in 2 series (outer usually shorter) | Laënnecia |
4. Plants ± hirsute or pilose; phyllaries usually 1–3-nerved, nerves golden-resinous; disc corollas yellow, strongly constricted basally, throats sometimes strongly inflated-indurate, nerves often orange-resinous; pappi of outer setae (or 0) plus 7–25 inner bristles | Erigeron |
5. Disc corollas white or pale yellow; pappi of 10 basally connate scales | Thurovia |
5. Disc corollas yellow (white in Brintonia); pappi usually of distinct bristles or of outer, shorter setae or scales plus inner, longer bristles, sometimes 0 | → 6 |
6. Stems and leaves resinous, gland-dotted; phyllary apices hooked or looped, or slightly recurved to straight; pappi of 2–8 bristles | Grindelia |
6. Stems and leaves sometimes resinous, sometimes stipitate-glandular or gland-dotted; phyllary apices straight to squarrose; pappi of 10+ bristles | → 7 |
7. Phyllary midveins translucent and swollen at least basally (not resinous) | → 8 |
7. Phyllary midveins usually not notably swollen (orange-resinous in Erigeron) | → 9 |
8. Disc corollas white | Brintonia |
8. Disc corollas yellow | Solidago |
9. Phyllary and corolla nerves orange-resinous; pappi of outer, shorter setae or scales plus inner, longer bristles | Erigeron |
9. Phyllary and corolla nerves not orange-resinous, or only corolla nerves orange-resinous; pappi of equal or unequal bristles. | → 10 |
10. Phyllaries subequal, foliaceous | Toiyabea |
10. Phyllaries unequal (sometimes subequal, then outer not foliaceous), outer ± herbaceous (sometimes foliaceous), or chartaceous, or proximally indurate | → 11 |
11. Phyllaries keeled, distally only with relatively small green zones or green along midveins; pappus bristles in 2–3 series (outer in notably shorter series or relatively few) | → 12 |
11. Phyllaries usually flat, sometimes keeled, distally herbaceous or green; pappi of equal or unequal bristles in 1–3 series (outer not in notably shorter series) | → 13 |
12. Leaves cauline (proximal withering by flowering), margins without coarse spreading cilia near bases; phyllary margins often reddish, sometimes hyaline, abaxial faces glabrous or glabrate to woolly, sometimes stipitate-glandular | Eucephalus |
12. Leaves basal and cauline (basal and proximal withering by flowering), margins with coarse spreading cilia near bases or on petioles; phyllary margins not reddish, scarious, abaxial faces ± hispid or stipitate-glandular | Heterotheca |
13. Leaf faces densely scabrous and short-stipitate-glandular; phyllaries ± keeled proximally (Esmeralda County, Nevada) | Tonestus |
13. Leaf faces glabrous or canescent, ± puberulent, hispidulous, tomentose, or villous, and/or sometimes ± stipitate-glandular or gland-dotted; phyllaries sometimes keeled | → 14 |
14. Leaves basal and cauline, basal and proximal petiolate, distal sessile; disc floret style appendages lanceolate | → 15 |
14. Leaves cauline, sessile; disc floret style appendages triangular | → 16 |
15. Plants densely stipitate-glandular, with caudices; stems densely clustered, simple; leaf blades obovate or oblong to broadly oblanceolate; phyllaries keeled; disc corolla throats cylindric; cypselae white strigoso-hirsute | Triniteurybia |
15. Plants sparsely, if at all, stipitate-glandular, taprooted; stems single, usually branched; leaf blades lanceolate to oblanceolate; phyllaries flat; disc corolla throats funnelform; cypselae sparsely appressed-hairy | Dieteria |
16. Phyllary margins scarious; disc corolla lobes unequal; cypselae obpyramidal, sericeous; pappi of 40–50 tawny bristles | Isocoma |
16. Phyllary margins not scarious; disc corolla lobes equal; cypselae prismatic, narrowly turbinate, fusiform, or deltoid, glabrous or sparsely scabrous; pappi of 15–30 reddish brown to brownish bristles | → 17 |
17. Stems glabrous or scabrous, eglandular; leaf bases not subclasping, margins entire; cypselae prismatic or narrowly turbinate; pappus bristles barbellate | Oönopsis |
17. Stems scabrous to sparsely tomentulose, distally stipitate-glandular; leaf bases subclasping, margins serrate; cypselae fusiform to deltoid; pappus bristles smooth | Hazardia |
18. Rays usually yellow or orange, sometimes cream-colored or white | → 19 |
18. Rays white, pink, purple, or blue | → 38 |
19. Pappi 0, or crowns, or of scales | → 20 |
19. Pappi of bristles, or of outer shorter setae, bristles, or scales plus inner, longer bristles, or of setiform awns. | → 21 |
20. Leaves cauline (basal withering by flowering), blades linear to lanceolate or spatulate, stipitate-glandular; heads borne singly or in clusters of 3–6; phyllaries in 2–4 series; cypselae clavate or cylindric, not compresssed, 5–8-nerved, white-hairy (hairs clavate to bulbous); pappi usually of 5–10 scales, sometimes crowns or 0 | Gutierrezia |
20. Leaves basal (present at flowering) and cauline, blades spatulate, eglandular; heads borne singly (± sessile); phyllaries in 3–7+ series; cypselae obovoid to lanceoloid, flattened, 2-nerved, hairy (hairs glochidiform); pappi of 10–12 (ray) or 20–35+ (disc), lanceolate to subulate or setiform scales | Townsendia |
21. Pappi of outer shorter setae, bristles, or scales plus inner, longer bristles in 2 series | → 22 |
21. Pappi of setiform scales or bristles in 1–4 series | → 26 |
22. Plants taprooted or with simple caudices (and fibrous-rooted); heads borne singly or in 2s or 3s; phyllaries in 2–3 series, equal or subequal, flat, usually 1–3-nerved (nerves golden-resinous); cypselae 2-nerved, not resinous | Erigeron |
22. Plants taprooted, rhizomatous, or with branched caudices; heads in corymbiform, ± paniculiform, or subumbelliform arrays, sometimes borne singly; phyllaries in 3–5 series, unequal, usually thickened or keeled (not in Bradburia), 1-nerved, not golden-resinous; cypselae smooth or 1–14-nerved or -ribbed, nerves or ribs sometimes resinous | → 23 |
23. Stems and leaves silky-sericeous, rarely glabrate; leaves sessile, blades 3–11-parallel-nerved (nerves sunken), linear to lanceolate or ovate (often grasslike), margins entire; involucres turbinate | Pityopsis |
23. Stems and leaves whitish-strigose, pilose, hispid, or arachnose to woolly (hairs flagelliform, soft), or glabrous; leaves sessile or basal petiolate, blades usually 1-nerved (veins reticulate, raised abaxially), spatulate, ovate-oblanceolate, ovate, elliptic, elliptic-oblong, oblanceolate, linear-lanceolate, or (usually distal) linear, margins entire, serrate, or dentate (sometimes coarsely ciliate); involucres campanulate or turbinate | → 24 |
24. Plants proximally woolly, distally arachnose or pilose (hairs flagelliform); basal leaves sessile | Chrysopsis |
24. Plants sparsely to ± densely hispid, strigose, or pilose (hairs not flagelliform); basal leaves petiolate | → 25 |
25. Perennials (taproots relatively short and/or caudices woody); basal petioles ciliate; cauline leaves much reduced distally, not clasping; heads borne singly or in lax paniculiform arrays; cypselae monomorphic, ray pappi of outer, shorter, setiform scales or bristles plus inner, longer bristles | Bradburia |
25. Perennials (caudices woody); basal petioles long-strigoso-ciliate; cauline leaves ± reduced distally, sometimes clasping or subclasping; heads borne singly or in corymbiform, sometimes paniculiform arrays; cypselae dimorphic or monomorphic, ray pappi 0, or of outer, linear-lanceolate scales plus inner, longer bristles | Heterotheca |
26. Stems and leaves resinous, gland-dotted; involucres usually globose, hemispheric, or broadly urceolate, sometimes campanulate to obconic, usually ± resinous; pappi of (1–)2–8 white, straight, contorted, or curled, barbellate or smooth awns or setiform scales in 1 series | Grindelia |
26. Stems and leaves usually not resinous, sometimes stipitate-glandular or gland-dotted; involucres hemispheric, campanulate, turbinate, or cylindric, not resinous, sometimes viscid or stipitate-glandular or gland-dotted; pappi of white, tawny, brownish, or reddish, barbellate bristles in 1–4 series | → 27 |
27. Plants ± colonial (rhizomatous); heads usually glomerate, and/or sometimes pedunculate-solitary in flat-topped or multi-storied, corymbiform arrays | Euthamia |
27. Plants colonial (sometimes rhizomatous, stems single or clustered, usually from ± woody taproots or caudices); heads borne singly, or (2–5) in paniculiform to corymbiform arrays, or in open or dense corymbiform, paniculiform (diversely shaped in Solidago), racemiform, or spiciform arrays (if glomerate, not in flat-topped, corymbiform arrays, arrays not storied) | → 28 |
28. Plants rhizomatous (often colonial); heads in dense corymbiform or paniculiform arrays | → 29 |
28. Plants usually taprooted or with caudices, sometimes also from spreading roots (stems single or clustered); heads usually borne singly, sometimes (2–5) in loose corymbiform, cymiform, or paniculiform arrays, or in spiciform, racemiform, paniculiform, or corymbiform arrays, or glomerate (some Oönopsis) | → 30 |
29. Stems and leaves sometimes stipitate-glandular or gland-dotted; cauline leaf bases not clasping, faces sometimes resinous; heads in rounded, club-shaped, wand-shaped, or pyramid-shaped paniculiform (often secund) arrays, or in flat-topped, corymbiform arrays; involucres campanulate to cylindric, 3–12 mm, sometimes stipitate-glandular; phyllary midveins usually swollen, translucent, apices often with green zone, sometimes reflexed; ray florets 3–15(–21); disc corolla lobes lanceolate, erect to reflexed, style-branch appendages triangular; cypselae obconic, terete or ± compressed, 5–8-nerved; pappi of unequal bristles in 1–2(–3) series | Solidago |
29. Stems and leaves stipitate-glandular; cauline leaf bases clasping or subclasping, faces resinous; heads in dense, flat-topped, corymbiform arrays; involucres campanulate to hemispheric, 10–11 mm, stipitate-glandular; phyllary midveins not swollen, apices green-tipped and spreading-reflexed; ray florets 12–20; disc corolla lobes triangular, spreading, style-branch appendages linear; cypselae fusiform, distinctly compressed, 12–16-nerved (nerves whitish, raised); pappi of equal bristles in 2(–3) series; w United States | Oreochrysum |
30. Stems sometimes clustered; heads usually in rounded, club-shaped, wand-shaped, or pyramid-shaped, paniculiform, or flat-topped, corymbiform (often secund) arrays, or in spiciform, racemiform, or cymiform arrays, sometimes borne singly | → 31 |
30. Stems single or clustered; heads borne singly or (2–5) in loose, corymbiform or paniculiform arrays, or 2–5(–15) in racemiform, spiciform, or corymbiform arrays | → 32 |
31. Plants with caudices (stems clustered); leaves basal and cauline; heads in rounded, club-shaped, wand-shaped, or pyramid-shaped, paniculiform (often secund) or flat-topped corymbiform arrays; involucres campanulate to cylindric, 3–12 mm; phyllary midveins usually swollen and translucent; cypselae 5–8-nerved | Solidago |
31. Plants taprooted; leaves mostly cauline; heads usually in spiciform, racemiform, or cymiform arrays, sometimes borne singly; involucres campanulate, 11–13 mm; phyllary midveins not swollen; cypselae 4–5-nerved (California, Oregon) | Hazardia |
32. Stems single, usually branched; cypselae dimorphic (rays 3-angled, discs ± compressed), obovoid, oblong, or obscurely cordate, or rays broadly ellipsoid to obovoid (thick-walled) and discs broadly ellipsoid to clavate (thin-walled); pappi of coarse, barbellate bristles or setiform scales | → 33 |
32. Stems single or clustered, usually simple; cypselae monomorphic, terete or compressed to ± flattened, prismatic (3–4-angled), narrowly turbinate, subcylindric-fusiform, cylindric, or linear (usually thin-walled); pappi of relatively fine barbellate bristles | → 34 |
33. Basal leaves 1–2-pinnatifid, cauline deeply incised to coarsely dentate or ± entire; involucres 6–10 mm; phyllaries stiff, leathery or bases indurate, apices herbaceous; disc corolla throats not abruptly ampliate, style-branch append-ages lanceolate | Xanthisma |
33. Leaves linear to oblanceolate, coarsely serrate to entire; involucres 7–16 mm; phyllaries herbaceous; disc corolla throats abruptly ampliate, style-branchappendages deltate | Rayjacksonia |
34. Leaves 3-nerved, faces arachnose (in minute, abaxial lacunae); involucresnarrowly turbinate to subcylindric; pappi tawny to reddish brown | Croptilon |
34. Leaves 1–3(–5)-nerved, faces glabrous, scabrous, villous, sericeous, tomentose, or lanate; involucres hemispheric to broadly or narrowly campanulate; pappi whitish or brownish | → 35 |
35. Plants sometimes mat-forming; stems clustered; leaves 1–5-nerved; margins of outer phyllaries scarious; pappi whitish | → 36 |
35. Plants not mat-forming; stems single or clustered; leaves 1-nerved; margins of outer phyllaries herbaceous (sometimes proximally indurate); pappi brownish | → 37 |
36. Stems eglandular or stipitate-glandular, sometimes resinous; leaf margins entire, faces glabrous, scabrous, villous, or lanate, usually stipitate-glandular, sometimes eglandular; phyllaries unequal, proximally indurate, distally chartaceous or herbaceous; ray florets 5–17; cypselae usually sericeous, sometimes glabrous | Stenotus |
36. Stems densely stipitate-glandular (viscid); leaf margins entire, coarsely and irregularly serrate, dentate, or lobed, faces glabrous or scabrous, sometimes stipitate-glandular; phyllaries subequal, outer foliaceous; ray florets 11–23(–35); cypselae glabrous or villous | Tonestus |
37. Stems and leaves glabrous or sparsely tomentose, eglandular; leaves basal (usually withering by flowering) and cauline, blades narrowly oblanceolate to lanceolate or linear, margins entire; heads borne singly, or 2–12 in glomerules or in loose, corymbiform arrays (subtended by little-reduced distal leaves); rays 6–25; cypselae prismatic or narrowly turbinate | Oönopsis |
37. Stems and leaves loosely tomentose to woolly, sometimes gland-dotted or stipitate-glandular; leaves basal (persistent) and cauline, basal blades oblanceolate to elliptic or linear, cauline lanceolate, margins entire, spinulose-dentate or -serrate, or shallowly laciniate; heads borne singly or (2–15, ± sessile) in racemiform, spiciform, or loose, corymbiform arrays (at ends of scapiform stems or peduncles); rays 10–80; cypselae subcylindric-fusiform | Pyrrocoma |
38. Receptacles conic; rays white (pink or purplish-tinged abaxially) | → 39 |
38. Receptacles flat or convex; rays white, pink, blue, or purple (not tinged abaxially) | → 40 |
39. Plants 5–20 cm (scapiform, short-rhizomatous); leaves mostly basal, margins crenate-serrate; phyllary margins herbaceous; rays in 3–4 series (closing at night); cypselae obconic, compressed, margins thickened, riblike, apices not cupped; pappi 0 | Bellis |
39. Plants 5–50 cm (leafy, taprooted); leaves basal and cauline, margins entire or toothed to pinnatifid; phyllary margins broadly scarious; rays in 1(–2) series (not closing at night); cypselae columnar, usually 4-angled, 4–12-ribbed, apices usually cupped; pappi of awns, aristate scales, short bristles, or 0 | Aphanostephus |
40. Plants colonial; stems branched (lateral branches strongly ascending, commonly modified to green thorns); leaves early withering; phyllaries (1–)3(–5)-nerved (usually wet sites in arid, sw United States) | Chloracantha |
40. Plants sometimes colonial; stems single or clustered, simple or branched (not becoming thorny); at least distal leaves persistent through flowering; phyllaries usually 1-nerved, seldom 3-nerved | → 41 |
41. Cypselae usually obconic or obovoid, sometimes lanceoloid, flattened or compressed, margins ribbed (sometimes 1–2 nerves also on faces) | → 42 |
41. Cypseale ± narrowly obconic, obovoid, oblanceoloid, lanceoloid, fusiform, or linear, ± compressed or terete, sometimes winged or wings reduced and resembling marginal nerves or ribs (then pappi 0 or of minute scales), usually 3–12+-nerved on faces (margins not ribbed) | → 46 |
42. Leaves cauline; phyllaries keeled | → 43 |
42. Leaves basal and/or cauline; phyllaries not keeled | → 44 |
43. Plants 10–160 cm, minutely stipitate-glandular distally; proximalmost leaves scalelike, proximal withering by flowering, cauline distally increasing in size to mid stems, mid and distal blades lanceolate or lance-ovate to elliptic; heads in racemiform or corymbiform arrays; cypselae glabrous, pilose, or strigose, eglandular; pappi of outer, shorter plus inner, longer bristles in 3 series | Eucephalus |
43. Plants 4–30(–70) cm, sometimes stipitate-glandular; leaves persistent to flowering, mostly equal in size and shape, blades spatulate (proximal), linear, narrowly oblong, or elliptic-lanceolate; heads borne singly or in 2s or 3s, or in corymbiform arrays; cypselae densely strigose or sericeous, sometimes stipitate-glandular; pappi of outer shorter bristles or scales plus inner, longer bristles in 2 series | Ionactis |
44. Leaf faces eglandular; corolla lobes lanceolate; pappi of 20–30 bristles | Aster |
44. Leaf faces often gland-dotted; corolla lobes deltate or lance-deltate; pappi usually of 12–35+ scales, or of outer setae or scales plus 5–40(–50) bristles (sometimes only on rays or on discs), sometimes 0 | → 45 |
45. Plants taprooted or with branched caudices; heads borne singly; leaves usually entire, rarely toothed or lobed; phyllaries unequal, 1-nerved (nerves not golden-resinous); disc corolla throats funnelform; cypselae glabrous or hairy (hairs glochidiform); pappi of 12–35+ scales | Townsendia |
45. Plants rhizomatous, sometimes taprooted; heads borne singly or in corymbiform arrays; leaves entire, ± dentate, or pin-natifid; phyllaries equal to unequal, 1–3-nerved (nerves golden-resinous); disc corolla throats sometimes strongly inflated-indurate; cypselae glabrous, strigose, or sericeous; pappi usually of outer, shorter setae or scales plus 5–40(–50) inner, longer bristles (sometimes only on rays or discs),sometimes 0 | Erigeron |
46. Pappi 0, or crowns of setae or scales, or of scales, of alternating scales and bristles, or of outer, shorter setae or scales plus inner, longer bristles | → 47 |
46. Pappi of bristles or setiform scales | → 50 |
47. Phyllary midnerves not swollen, not orange-resinous; disc style-branch appendages triangular or lanceolate | → 48 |
47. Phyllary midnerves (or 1–3 nerves) orange-resinous; disc style-branch appendages deltate | → 49 |
48. Leaves usually entire, sometimes dentate or lobed, bases clasping or subclasping; phyllaries subequal; pappi rings or crowns of setae or scales | Astranthium |
48. Leaves entire, bases not clasping; phyllaries unequal; pappi thickened rings, crowns of scales (basally fused or distinct), or minute outer scales plus inner bristles | Chaetopappa |
49. Plants not colonial (stems ± clustered), stems and leaves stipitate-glandular; basal leaves persistent or withering by flowering; heads borne singly or (2–10) in corymbiform arrays; pappi usually of outer setae or scales plus 5–40(–50) inner bristles, sometimes 0 | Erigeron |
49. Plants colonial, stems and leaves eglandular; basal leaves withering by flowering; heads in corymbiform or diffuse, paniculiform arrays; pappi of 2–3 awns plus shorter bristles or scales, or wholly of minute scales | Boltonia |
50. Cypselae ± dimorphic (ray 3-sided and rounded abaxially, disc ± compressed); pappi of relatively coarse (± flattened) bristles or setiform scales | → 51 |
50. Cypselae monomorphic; pappi of relatively fine bristles | → 52 |
51. Stems simple; leaves mostly basal, margins serrate or serrulate; involucres depressed-hemispheric; cypselae 3–9-ribbed on each face; pappus bristles coarsely barbellate | Xanthisma |
51. Stems usually branched; leaves basal (persistent in rosettes or withering) and cauline (distally ± reduced) or mostly cauline, margins pinnately lobed or pinnatifid, toothed, or entire; involucres turbinate, campanulate, or hemispheric; cypselae 8–13-nerved on each face; pappus bristles barbellulate | Arida |
52. Plants mostly rhizomatous, sometimes with caudices; heads in paniculiform or racemiform arrays, rarely borne singly | → 53 |
52. Plants taprooted, with caudices, or rhizomatous; heads in corymbiform (or flat-topped racemiform) arrays or borne singly, or sometimes grouped into loose corymbiform arrays | → 56 |
53. Stems spreading-hirsute, eglandular; heads in narrow (wand-shaped), paniculiform arrays; phyllary midribs translucent and swollen; rays 7–9, corollas white to pale cream | Solidago |
53. Stems usually glabrous, often distally hairy in lines, sometimes ± densely hairy, sometimes distally stipitate-glandular; heads in ± open or dense (not wand-shaped), paniculiform arrays; phyllary midnerves not translucent and swollen; rays (8–)12–65(–75), corollas white, pink, blue, or purple | → 54 |
54. Phyllaries usually unequal, sometimes subequal, proximally indurate, distally with defined green zone, sometimes distally foliaceous, or outer whollyfoliaceous, sometimes short-stipitate-glandular | Symphyotrichum |
54. Phyllaries subequal, herbaceous (without definite distal green zones, not foliaceous), short-stipitate-glandular | → 55 |
55. Stems ± densely villous; leaves cauline, blades 1-nerved (venation reticulate), lanceolate to elliptic, bases auriculate-clasping, abaxial faces glabrate to ± strigose, adaxial sparsely villous (distal stipitate-glandular); phyllaries often purplish, apices of outer acuminate; disc corollas whitish to pale yellow; cold wet soils, montane (n Cordilleras) and boreal North America | Canadanthus |
55. Stems glabrous; leaves basal and cauline, blades 3-nerved (nerves ± parallel), linear, bases subclasping, faces glabrous (distal stipitate-glandular); phyllaries green, apices of outer acute; disc corollas yellow; damp alkaline areas, deserts and dry prairies, w North America | Almutaster |
56. Plants usually tapooted, sometimes with caudices (also rhizomatous from fibrous roots in Chaetopappa); stems usually 1 (sometimes 2–5+ in clusters), branched or simple; heads borne singly or in loose corymbiform arrays | → 57 |
56. Plants rhizomatous or with caudices; stems 1–5+, usually simple; heads usually in corymbiform arrays, sometimes borne singly (then plants long-rhizomatous, rays pink) | → 62 |
57. Stems and leaves usually densely white-tomentose, sometimes glabrate, stipitate-glandular or gland-dotted; stems simple; ray florets neuter; cypselae cuneiform or linear; pappi reddish to brownish (bristles relatively coarse, California) | Corethrogyne |
57. Stems and leaves glabrous, glabrate, canescent, villous, or tomentose, sometimes stipitate-glandular or gland-dotted; stems simple or branched; ray florets pistillate, fertile; cypselae fusiform, cylindric, obovoid, or linear; pappi hyaline or white to tawny | → 58 |
58. Stems simple; leaf margins entire; phyllaries mostly foliaceous (margins sometimes proximally indurate); rays white (maturing or drying bluish or purplish) | → 59 |
58. Stems branched or simple; leaf margins entire or toothed (teeth apiculate, ± spinulose, or spine-tipped); phyllaries usually not foliaceous (proximally white-indurate, distally green or herbaceous); rays white, blue, violet, or purple | → 60 |
59. Leaves basal and cauline (crowded), blades linear-oblanceolate to lanceolate, 1-nerved; phyllaries not keeled; cypselae 5-nerved | Chaetopappa |
59. Leaves mostly basal (rosettes), blades linear to oblanceolate, 3-nerved; phyllaries often ± keeled; cypselae 5–10-nerved (nerves raised) | Oreostemma |
60. Stems mostly simple (scapiform); leaves mostly basal (rosettes, often marcescent), margins entire or irregularly serrate (teeth apiculate or ± spinulose); phyllaries squarrose; cypselae 8–10-ribbed (canyons, rock faces, Utah) | Herrickia |
60. Stems mostly branched; leaves basal and cauline, margins entire or toothed (teeth spinose-tipped); phyllaries appressed, spreading, or reflexed; cypselae 4-nerved, 4–6-ribbed, or smooth | → 61 |
61. Stems mostly single; cauline leaf blades lanceolate to oblanceolate; phyllaries not keeled | Dieteria |
61. Stems clustered; cauline leaf blades spatulate to obovate oroblong, rarely elliptic; phyllaries keeled | Xylorhiza |
62. Phyllaries flat, not keeled, midveins orange-resinous or swollen and translucent | → 63 |
62. Phyllaries ± rounded, sometimes ± keeled, midveins not swollen | → 64 |
63. Plants 40–200 cm; leaves basal (not persistent, reduced) and cauline, blades 1-nerved (venation brochidodromous), lanceolate to elliptic; phyllary midveins orange-resinous; rays 2–10(–16) | Doellingeria |
63. Plants 10–40 cm; leaves basal (persistent, well developed) and cauline (reduced), blades usually 1-nerved, sometimes ± 3-nerved (venation reticulate), linear to linear-lanceolate, phyllary midveins swollen, translucent; ray florets 10–20 | Solidago |
64. Plants rhizomatous and/or with woody caudices (rhizomes with swollen apical buds); heads in ± loose, corymbiform arrays or borne singly (nodding in bud); phyllaries lance-ovate to linear (membranous), proximally not indurate, green along midnerves; cypselae 5–8-nerved (lateral 2 thicker), glabrous, ± densely gland-dotted; e North America | Oclemena |
64. Plants rhizomatous (rhizomes not apically swollen) and/or with caudices; heads in corymbiform arrays (erect in bud); phyllaries ovate, oblong, lanceolate, or linear-lanceolate, proximally indurate, distally with sharply delimited green apical zones; cypselae 7–12(–18)-nerved, glabrous, strigillose, or strigose, eglandular; e, w North America (excluding United States prairies) | → 65 |
65. Involucres cylindric; ray florets 1–6, white; disc corollas white or cream-colored; cypselae ± densely strigose | Sericocarpus |
65. Involucres cylindro-campanulate or campanulate; rays 5–60, white to purple; disc corollas yellow; cypselae glabrous or ± densely strigillose | → 66 |
66. Stems and leaves usually stipitate-glandular, sometimes eglandular and glaucous; leaves mostly cauline, entire or spinulose-serrate, glabrous or scabrellous; phyllaries sometimes rounded, usually keeled, apices acuteto long-acuminate; rays 8–27; disc corolla tubes shorter than limbs (w Cordilleras) | Herrickia |
66. Stems and leaves usually eglandular, sometimes stipitate-glandular (e North America only), not glaucous; leaves basal and/or cauline, serrate (teeth sometimes spinulose or spinose, blades then linear, grasslike, se North America) or entire, hairy or glabrous; phyllaries usually rounded, sometimes keeled, apices obtuse to acute; rays 5–60; disc corolla tubes shorter or longer than limbs | Eurybia |
1. Stems hairy, villous, or hispidulous (at least distally among heads) | → 2 |
1. Stems glabrous or glabrate | → 4 |
2. Leaves oblong or oblanceolate, (3–)5–13 mm wide; margins sharply serrate | B. plummerae |
2. Leaves linear-lanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate, 1–4 mm wide, margins serrate or entire | → 3 |
3. Proximal leaves linear-lanceolate, 5–17 × 1–2 mm, not gland-dotted or resinous, absent at flowering; distal leaves reduced, bractlike; Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas | B. brachyphylla |
3. Proximal leaves linear to narrowly oblanceolate, (15–)20–45(–65) × 1–4(–5) mm, gland-dotted (adaxial faces), present at flowering; distal leaves usually well developed; Los Angeles County, California | B. malibuensis |
4. Perennials or subshrubs, stems 10–80 cm (much branched from bases) | → 5 |
4. Shrubs (aerial stems not dying back each year), mostly 60+ cm | → 7 |
5. Pistillate involucres 7–9 mm; phyllaries keeled (midribs dilated); leaves 10–40 × 1–4 mm, margins finely undulate | B. texana |
5. Pistillate involucres 4–5 or 9–14 mm; phyllaries not keeled; leaves 5–30 × 1–2(–7) mm, margins entire, finely serrate, or irregularly dentate, not undulate | → 6 |
6. Pistillate involucres 4–4.5 mm; pappi ca. 4 mm (tawny); leaf margins often irregularly toothed; flowering Jul–Sep; New Mexico, Texas | B. havardii |
6. Pistillate involucres 9–14 mm; pappi 15–20 mm (often brownish); leaf margins entire or finely serrate; flowering Apr–Jun; Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah | B. wrightii |
7. Heads in compact racemiform arrays or glomerules (on relatively short lateral branchlets) | → 8 |
7. Heads in ± terminal corymbiform or paniculiform arrays | → 9 |
8. Stems ± terete or weakly striate, glandular, papillose-roughened; leaves clustered in fascicles, blades linear to lanceolate or spatulate, 5–12 × 1–5 mm, entire; heads (on leafy branches) in racemiform arrays | B. pteronioides |
8. Stems sharply striate-angled, glabrous or minutely scurfy; leaves not in fascicles, blades obovate or elliptic to rhombic, 20–60 × 8–40 mm (teeth 1–3 per side distal to middle); heads (sessile or subsessile) often in clusters of 3 | B. glomeruliflora |
9. Plants broomlike (densely stemmed, branches ± parallel); leaves sparse or absent at flowering; heads borne singly (at tips of branches) or (± sessile on lateral branches) in paniculiform arrays | → 10 |
9. Plants bushy or sparingly branched, not broomlike; leaves present at flowering; heads in corymbiform or paniculiform arrays | → 12 |
10. Leaves obovate to broadly oblanceolate, 5–15 mm wide; heads (± sessile on lateral branches) in crowded paniculiform arrays; staminate corollas 2–3.5 mm | B. sergiloides |
10. Leaves linear to narrowly oblanceolate, 1–3 mm wide; heads borne singly or in clusters; staminate corollas 4–5 mm | → 11 |
11. Stems striate, sharply angled; involucres cylindric; phyllaries ovate to lanceolate, apices acute to rounded, glabrous; gravelly or sandy disturbed areas, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas | B. sarothroides |
11. Stems smooth, rounded; involucres funnelform; phyllaries lanceolate, narrowly tapered, usually glandular-scurfy; dense coastal chaparral, s California | B. vanessae |
12. Proximal leaves rhombic, coarsely serrate (teeth 2–3 pairs distal to middles); pappi 8–12 mm | B. halimifolia |
12. Proximal leaves not rhombic, usually not coarsely serrate (if serrate, leaves less than 10 mm wide); pappi 3–12 mm | → 13 |
13. Leaves obovate, oblanceolate, or spatulate | → 14 |
13. Leaves linear, lanceolate, elliptic, oblong to narrowly oblanceolate | → 16 |
14. Leaf margins entire; s Florida | B. dioica |
14. Leaf margins coarsely and irregularly dentate or serrate; Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas | → 15 |
15. Leaves not thickened, margins coarsely serrate or 2-serrate; array leaves reduced to bracts; cypselae 5-nerved; pappi 3–4.5 mm; Arizona, New Mexico, Texas | B. bigelovii |
15. Leaves thickened, margins entire or coarsely dentate (teeth 3–9); array leaves not reduced, often toothed; cypselae 8–10-nerved, pappi 6–9 mm; California | B. pilularis |
16. Leaves linear, narrowly elliptic, or narrowly oblanceolate (1–5 mm wide) | → 17 |
16. Leaves 3–20 mm wide, lanceolate, or oblong to narrowly oblanceolate | → 19 |
17. Leaves linear to narrowly oblanceolate, margins sharply serrate; cypselae 5-nerved | B. plummerae |
17. Leaves linear to narrowly elliptic, margins entire, serrate, or sparsely dentate; cypselae 10-nerved | → 18 |
18. Leaf margins mostly entire; brackish, marshy areas of Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains | B. angustifolia |
18. Leaf margins usually finely serrate (teeth shallow), sometimes nearly entire; disturbed open habitats, c Texas | B. neglecta |
19. Leaves oblong to narrowly oblanceolate, margins entire or coarsely and irregularly ser-rate (teeth 2–3 pairs distal to middles); cypselae 8–10-nerved, pappi 8–12 mm | B. salicina |
19. Leaves lanceolate, linear-oblanceolate, or oblong, margins finely serrate (faces resinous); cypselae 5-nerved, pappi 4–6 mm | → 20 |
20. Plants rhizomatous, colonial; heads in dense, compact, terminal corymbiform arrays; cypselae minutely hispidulous; California, Oregon | B. glutinosa |
20. Plants not rhizomatous, not colonial; heads in loose paniculiform or corymbiform arrays; cypselae glabrous; s and w United States | → 21 |
21. Leaves 30–150 mm, margins entire or finely serrate from bases to apices, teeth blunt-tipped; heads in loose corymbiform arrays; cypselae 0.8–1.5 mm; sw United States | B. salicifolia |
21. Leaves 20–40(–80) mm, margins evenly serrate (teeth spinulose); heads in rounded paniculiform arrays; cypselae 1.5–2.2 mm; Arizona, New Mexico | B. thesioides |
- Local floras:
CA, 
OR, 
WA - Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos,
Flora NW, 
PNW Herbaria 
WildflowerSearch
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USDA Plants Database- LBJ Wildflower Center
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- Wikipedia
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