Heterotheca grandiflora
Heterotheca shevockii
silk-grass goldenaster, telegraph weed
Kern Canyon false goldenaster, Shevock's golden aster
1–5+, ascending to erect (strict, 0.9–1.7 cm diam., only distal lateral branches developing in larger plants), moderately to densely hispido-strigose, more so proximally, moderately to densely stipitate-glandular, more so distally.
1–35+, ascending to erect (sometimes brown proximally, sometimes ± brittle), sparsely strigose, moderately hispid (hairs often broken off in older stems), distally sparsely hispido-strigose and densely stipitate-glandular, abundantly long-hirsute.
basal and proximal cauline petiolate (petioles 3–7 cm, bases auriculate-clasping), blades ovate or elliptic to oblong, 50–80 × 20–30 mm, margins flat or somewhat undulate, coarsely serrate to serrulate or entire, proximally long-ciliate, apices acute, faces moderately to densely long-hispido-strigose;
distal sessile, blades oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, 20–40 × 20–30 mm, reduced distally, margins often undulate, coarsely serrate.
proximal cauline subpetiolate to sessile, blades oblanceolate to lanceolate, 25–55 × 5–16 mm, bases convex-cuneate, margins entire, strigoso-ciliate, proximally long-ciliate, apices acute, mucronate, faces moderately hispido-strigose;
distal blades sessile, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate-triangular, (17–)31–65 × 6–15 mm, reduced distally, bases abruptly convex-cuneate or rounded to sometimes subclasping, margins entire, usually revolute, faces sparsely to moderately long-hispido-strigose proximally, moderately to densely stipitate-glandular (branch leaves much reduced distally, linear to linear-oblanceolate).
10–65 mm, sparsely to densely hispido-strigose, densely stipitate-glandular;
bracts 0–3, linear-lanceolate to linear, reduced distally.
10–60+ mm, sparsely hispido-strigose, densely stipitate-glandular;
bracts 3–10, proximal leaflike, greatly reduced distally, linear to linear-oblanceolate, distalmost phyllary-like (not surpassing heads).
campanulo-hemispheric, 6–9 mm.
cylindro-turbinate to campanulate, 9–13 mm.
20–40;
laminae 5–8 × 1–2 mm.
9–15(–18);
laminae 5–8(–10) × 0.8–2 mm.
30–75;
corollas 4–6 mm, lobes 0.5–0.8 mm.
(31–)40–70(–80);
corollas barely ampliate, 5–7 mm, tubes and throats sparsely strigose, lobes 0.3–0.8(–1.1) mm, lobes glabrous or sparsely strigose (hairs 0.04–0.27 mm).
in 4–6 series, linear-lanceolate, unequal, margins scarious, faces strigose, densely stipitate-glandular.
in 5–6 series, unequal (outer lengths 1/5–1/4 inner), faces sparsely strigose especially along pronounced midnerves, densely stipitate-glandular.
10–110+, in corymbiform arrays, becoming paniculiform with age, branches ascending, usually relatively short compared to plant height.
(3–)5–20(–70) in paniculiform arrays, branches elongate on robust shoots.
dimorphic, (ray) 2–5 mm, faces glabrous or slightly strigose on angles, (disc) 4–6 mm, faces moderately to densely strigose;
pappi 0 (ray) or (disc) stramineous to rusty brown, outer bristles 0.4–0.7 mm, inner 6–9 mm, longest weakly clavate.
monomorphic, obconic, compressed, 2–4.5 mm, ribs 8–12, faces moderately strigose;
pappi off-white, outer of linear scales 0.25–1 mm, inner of 35–45 bristles 5–7 mm, longest weakly clavate (usually equaling or shorther than corollas).
= 18.
= 36.
Heterotheca grandiflora
Heterotheca shevockii
Heterotheca grandiflora is common in California, rare and probably introduced in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, and introduced in Hawaii. Rosette plants can bloom in the spring.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Of conservation concern.
Known only from the lower Kern River Canyon, Kern County, Heterotheca shevockii is distinguished from other species by its usually tall stems and lanceolate-triangular mid cauline leaves with usually revolute margins, its large heads and floral parts, and pappi bristles usually only about 90% the length of the disc corollas at flowering. Smaller plants are similar to H. villosa var. scabra, known in California from a few locations in the Little San Bernardino Mountains (1200–1300 m).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
CA
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
