Malacothrix coulteri
Malacothrix foliosa
Snake's head desert-dandelion, Snake's-head
leafy desertdandelion, leafy malacothrix
1–6, ascending or erect, simple or branched proximally and distally, glaucous or glabrous.
1, erect, simple or branched proximally and/or distally or 2–10, decumbent to ascending, and ± branched distally, glabrous or sparsely arachnose (sometimes only in leaf axils).
proximal linear to obovate, sometimes pinnately lobed, not fleshy, ultimate margins entire or dentate, faces glabrous;
distal reduced (ovate to lanceolate, rarely pinnately lobed, bases clasping).
proximal oblanceolate to narrowly obovate, usually pinnately lobed (lobes usually unequal, apices acute or obtuse), sometimes ± fleshy, ultimate margins entire or dentate, faces glabrous (proximalmost cauline usually more deeply divided);
distal seldom notably reduced (sometimes pinnately lobed).
hemispheric, 10–22+ × 6–22+ mm.
± campanulate, 5–12 × 2–7 mm.
densely bristly.
not bristly.
85–257;
corollas usually pale yellow, sometimes white, 8–12 mm;
outer ligules exserted 2–5 mm.
10–123;
corollas light to medium yellow, 5–17 mm;
outer ligules exserted 1–10 mm.
(25–)40–60+ in 4–6+ series, (midstripes usually reddish or purple) orbiculate to ovate, oblong, lance-oblong, or linear, unequal, hyaline margins 1–2.5 mm wide, faces glabrous.
12–22(–40+, without calyculi) in 2–3(–5+) series, (usually red-tinged) lanceolate to linear, hyaline margins 0.05–0.2 mm wide, faces glabrous.
0.
0 (i.e., outer phyllaries intergrading with inner), or of 5–12+, oblong or ovate to lanceolate or linear bractlets, hyaline margins 0.1–0.3 mm wide.
± prismatic, 1.6–3.2 mm, ribs extending beyond apices, 5 more prominent than others;
persistent pappi of 20–25+, blunt teeth plus 2–6 bristles.
± cylindro-fusiform or ± prismatic, 0.9–1.7 mm, ribs extending to apices, ± equal or 5 more prominent than others;
persistent pappi usually 0, rarely of 1–2 bristles.
70–100% 3-porate.
70–100% 3-porate.
= 14.
= 14.
Malacothrix coulteri
Malacothrix foliosa
Variety cognata, indistinguishable in floral characters from var. coulteri and differing in cauline leaves parted almost to midribs, occurs at some mainland sites in southern California and has been collected on the Channel Islands. In California, Malacothrix coulteri grows in the San Joaquin Valley, central western areas, western Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and Mojave Desert. In Arizona, it grows in the Sonoran Desert in the Santa Rita and Tucson mountains, and similar places.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Subspecies 4 (4 in the flora).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Outer ligules usually exserted 1–4 mm | → 2 |
1. Outer ligules exserted 5–15 mm | → 3 |
2. Calyculi 0 or bractlets intergrading with phyllaries; cypselae ± prismatic (5-angled), 1.3–1.6 mm, 5 ribs more prominent than others; Anacapa Island, California | subsp. crispifolia |
2. Calyculi of 8–12+, oblong to linear bractlets; cypselae ± cylindro-fusiform, 0.9–1.5 mm, ribs ± equal; San Nicolas Island, California | subsp. polycephala |
3. Stems 1, usually erect; distal cauline leaves usually pinnately lobed (near bases, lobes 1–2 pairs, narrow); cypselae ± cylindro-fusiform, 0.9–1.5 mm, ribs ± equal; San Clemente Island, California | subsp. foliosa |
3. Stems (1–)3–5(–10), erect or decumbent to ascending; distal cauline leaves usually pinnately lobed (from bases to near apices); cypselae ± prismatic (5-angled) 1.3–1.7 mm, 5 ribs more prominent than others; Santa Barbara Island, California | subsp. philbrickii |
CA
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
