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desert nest straw, woollyhead fanbract, woollyhead neststraw, woollyhead or desert or woollyhead fanbract

mesquite neststraw, Sonoran neststraw

Habit Plants 2–14(–20) cm. Plants 2–10(–15) cm.
Leaves

acute, mucronate, longest 8–20 mm;

largest capitular leaves (some or all) subulate to lanceolate (widest in proximal 1/3), (7–)11–17 × 1.5–2.5 mm (distalmost mainly 1.5–2 times head heights).

blunt (proximal) or acute (median and distal), mucronate, longest 6–13 mm;

largest capitular leaves ± elliptic to narrowly ovate, 3–10 × 2–3 mm.

Receptacles

narrowly cylindric, 2–3 mm, heights 5–8 times diams.;

scars ± evenly distributed, ± flat.

clavate, 1.2–2.2 mm, heights 2.8–3.5 times diams.;

scars ± evenly distributed, mamillate.

Phyllaries

0, vestigial, or falling, ± subulate, mostly 0.1–0.5 mm, unequal.

0, vestigial, or falling, ± subulate, mostly 0.1–0.5 mm, unequal.

Heads

in ± paniculiform to cymiform, rarely dichasiform arrays, ± spheric, largest 5–9 mm, thickly lanuginose.

in cymiform to ± paniculiform, sometimes dichasiform arrays, ± spheric, largest 3.5–4.5 × 3–4 mm, thickly lanuginose.

Cypselae

1–1.4 mm, compressed;

pappi: staminate of 2–5(–10) smooth to barbellulate bristles 1.1–2 mm.

0.6–0.8 mm, slightly compressed;

pappi: staminate of (1–)3–8 barbellate bristles 0.9–1.3 mm (proximal barbs longer, spreading).

Pistillate

paleae: longest 3.4–4.5 mm, winged distally;

wings elliptic to ovate, widest in distal 1/3 of palea lengths;

bodies (except midnerves) chartaceous;

outermost paleae ± saccate.

paleae: longest 1.9–3.1 mm, winged distally;

wings ± elliptic, widest in distal 1/3 of palea lengths;

bodies (except midnerves) chartaceous;

outermost paleae ± saccate.

Functionally

staminate florets 3–6;

ovaries vestigial, 0–0.3 mm;

corollas 1.2–1.9 mm.

staminate florets 2–5;

ovaries partially developed, 0.3–0.6 mm;

corollas 0.9–1.4 mm.

2n

= 28.

Stylocline micropoides

Stylocline sonorensis

Phenology Flowering and fruiting Feb–May(–Aug). Flowering and fruiting Mar–May.
Habitat Relatively stable sandy or gravelly desert soils, often under shrubs, at rock bases Grassy hillsides, sandy drainages, with mesquite (Prosopis)
Elevation 70–1600 m (200–5200 ft) 400–1400 m (1300–4600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; NM; NV; TX; UT; Mexico (Baja California, Chihuahua, Sonora)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; CA; Mexico (Sonora)
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Stylocline micropoides occurs throughout warm deserts of the flora area, through the Grand Canyon to southern Utah and up Owens Valley to the White Mountains of California. Sterile and malformed natural hybrids between S. micropoides and Logfia arizonica have been seen. The description of S. micropoides by D. S. Correll and M. C. Johnston (1970) was clearly based on specimens of L. filaginoides; both species occur near El Paso, Texas.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Stylocline sonorensis is known from southeastern Arizona and northeastern Sonora. A disjunct, 1930 California occurrence was from apparently suitable habitat; recent searches have not relocated it.

Stylocline sonorensis is illustrated in J. D. Morefield (1992). It is superficially similar to S. citroleum; its closest relative is S. micropoides. Its ancestors may have been hybrid products involving Logfia depressa or its progenitors (Morefield).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 19, p. 452. FNA vol. 19, p. 452.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Gnaphalieae > Stylocline Asteraceae > tribe Gnaphalieae > Stylocline
Sibling taxa
S. citroleum, S. gnaphaloides, S. intertexta, S. masonii, S. psilocarphoides, S. sonorensis
S. citroleum, S. gnaphaloides, S. intertexta, S. masonii, S. micropoides, S. psilocarphoides
Name authority A. Gray: Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. 5(6): 84. (1853) Wiggins: Contr. Dudley Herb. 4: 26. (1950)
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