Simsia calva
Simsia lagasceiformis
awnless bush sunflower
annual bush sunflower
petiole bases dilated (pairs fused to form discs at nodes);
blades ovate, 2–8 × 1.5–6 cm, sometimes 3-lobed.
petiole bases rarely dilated (not fused to form nodal discs), blades ovate to deltate, 2–21 × 1–16 cm, rarely 3-lobed.
3–30 cm.
0.5–10 cm.
10–12 × 7–16 mm.
8–12 × 5–10 mm.
8–21;
corollas light orange-yellow (abaxial faces often brown- or purple-lined, or wholly brown or purple), laminae 5–16 mm.
5–10;
corollas orange-yellow, laminae 5.1–12 mm.
(26–)90–154;
anthers usually yellow, rarely black.
13–27;
anthers yellow proximally, usually purple to bronze distally.
21–43, subequal to unequal.
13–19, unequal.
usually borne singly, sometimes in 2s or 3s.
in tight to loose, corymbiform arrays.
3.5–5.7 mm;
pappi 0 or to 4 mm.
4.2–6 mm;
pappi usually 2.5–4.6 mm, rarely 0.
= 34.
= 34.
Simsia calva
Simsia lagasceiformis
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
