Malacothrix glabrata |
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desert dandelion, smooth desert dandelion |
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Habit | Annuals, (5–)10–40+ cm. |
Stems | (1–)3–5+, ascending to erect, usually branched proximally and distally, glabrous or sparsely arachno-puberulent near bases (sometimes glaucous). |
Cauline leaves | proximal usually pinnately lobed (lobes 3–6+ pairs, usually filiform, subequal to unequal, apices acute), ultimate margins entire, faces glabrous or ± hairy (then usually glabrescent); distal reduced (usually pinnately lobed). |
Involucres | campanulate to hemispheric, 9–17 × 4–7 mm. |
Receptacles | bristly. |
Florets | 31–139; corollas usually pale yellow, sometimes white, 15–23+ mm; outer ligules exserted 9–15+ mm. |
Phyllaries | 20–25+ in 2–3 series, lance-linear to linear, hyaline margins 0.05–0.3 mm wide, faces usually glabrous, abaxial sometimes ± white-hairy. |
Calyculi | of 12–20+, lanceolate to linear bractlets, hyaline margins 0.05–0.2 mm wide (abaxial faces often ± densely white-hairy). |
Cypselae | ± cylindro-fusiform (sometimes weakly 5-angled), 2–3.3 mm, ribs extending to apices, usually ± equal; persistent pappi of 0–12+, blunt to acute teeth plus 1–2(–5) bristles. |
Pollen | 70–100% 3-porate. |
2n | = 14. |
Malacothrix glabrata |
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Phenology | Flowering Mar–Jul. |
Habitat | Coarse soils in open areas, or among shrubs, creosote bush scrublands, Amsinckia, Artemisia, and Atriplex-Larrea associations, Joshua tree woodlands |
Elevation | 0–1800 m [0–5900 ft] |
Distribution |
AZ; CA; ID; NM; NV; OR; UT; Mexico (Baja California, Sonora)
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Discussion | Malacothrix glabrata grows in the Mojave, Great Basin, and Sonoran deserts in California and the Intermountain region in Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 19, p. 316. |
Parent taxa | |
Sibling taxa | |
Synonyms | M. californica var. glabrata |
Name authority | (A. Gray ex D. C. Eaton) A. Gray: in A. Gray et al., Syn. Fl. N. Amer. 1(2): 422. (1884) |
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