Simsia calva
awnless bush sunflower
petiole bases dilated (pairs fused to form discs at nodes);
blades ovate, 2–8 × 1.5–6 cm, sometimes 3-lobed.
3–30 cm.
10–12 × 7–16 mm.
8–21;
corollas light orange-yellow (abaxial faces often brown- or purple-lined, or wholly brown or purple), laminae 5–16 mm.
(26–)90–154;
anthers usually yellow, rarely black.
21–43, subequal to unequal.
usually borne singly, sometimes in 2s or 3s.
3.5–5.7 mm;
pappi 0 or to 4 mm.
= 34.
Simsia calva
Simsia calva is widespread throughout central, southern, and southwestern Texas from the southern Texas Plains to the trans-Pecos mountains and into southeastern New Mexico.
Simsia calva is distinguished from S. lagasceiformis by its perennial habit, fusiform-thickened roots, petioles winged and fused at bases to form nodal discs, heads borne singly or in 2s or 3s, and anthers usually yellow, rarely black. The common name, awnless bush sunflower, is not truly appropriate. Most populations are epappose; some have minute scales, and some populations of S. lagasceiformis (normally pappose) are epappose.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
