Malacothrix fendleri
Malacothrix foliosa
Fendler's desert dandelion
leafy desertdandelion, leafy malacothrix
(1–)3–8, ± decumbent or spreading-ascending, 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 elliptic to oblong-oblanceolate, sometimes pinnately lobed (lobes 2–4+ pairs, oblong to triangular, unequal, apices acute), not fleshy, ultimate margins usually dentate, faces glabrous;
distal reduced (narrowly triangular to linear or filiform, margins dentate or entire).
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).
± campanulate, 7–10 × 5–6+ mm.
± campanulate, 5–12 × 2–7 mm.
not bristly.
not bristly.
16–88;
corollas yellow (usually with red or purplish abaxial stripes), 6–14 mm;
outer ligules exserted 5–8 mm.
10–123;
corollas light to medium yellow, 5–17 mm;
outer ligules exserted 1–10 mm.
13–25+ in 2–3 series, lance-oblong or lanceolate to lance-linear, subequal, hyaline margins 0.05–0.3 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.
of 5–12, ovate to lanceolate bractlets, hyaline margins 0.05–0.2 mm wide.
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.
± cylindric, 1.8–2.4 mm (distal 0.3 mm slightly expanded, cupped, smooth), ribs not extending to apices, ± equal;
persistent pappi of 12–15, ± deltate teeth (often hidden within cups at apices of cypselae) plus 1–2 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 fendleri
Malacothrix foliosa
Malacothrix fendleri grows in the Sonoran Desert. “San Bernardino Co.” as locality for a specimen from the herbarium of J. G. Lemmon in UC (336493) is evidently an error.
(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 |
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