Arida carnosa

(A. Gray) D. R. Morgan & R. L. Hartman

Sida 20: 1413. 2003.

Common names: Shrubby alkali tansy-aster
Basionym: Linosyris carnosa A. Gray Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. 5(6): 80. 1853
Synonyms: Leucosyris carnosa (A. Gray) Greene Leucosyris carnosa var. intricata (A. Gray) Cronquist Machaeranthera carnosa Machaeranthera carnosa var. intricata (A. Gray) G. L. Nesom
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 20. Treatment on page 404. Mentioned on page 401, 402.

Subshrubs, 10–90 cm (bushy); rhizomes elongate. Stems 1–10+, suberect to reclining or sprawling, slender, repeatedly branched throughout, divaricately so, glabrous, glaucous. Leaves cauline; sessile; proximal blades linear, 10–20 × 2–3 mm, distal greatly reduced, scalelike, (succulent) bases tapered, margins entire, apices apiculate to spinose, faces glabrous. Heads borne singly (terminal), in diffuse, bracteate, cymiform arrays. Involucres 5–7 × 4–7 mm in flower. Phyllaries in 4–5 series, appressed or spreading, lanceolate, 2–8 mm, bases whitish to tan or tan throughout, margins entire to laciniate, apices often green, obtuse to acuminate, faces glabrous. Ray florets 0. Disc florets 12–25+; corollas yellow, 5–6 mm. Cypselae subcylindric, 2.5–3 mm, 7–9-nerved per face, faces sparsely sericeous; pappi whitish, setose, 4–6 mm. 2n = 10.


Phenology: Flowering Aug–Sep.
Habitat: Alkaline flats, canyons, meadows
Elevation: 100–1600 m

Distribution

V20-923-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Calif., Nev., Mexico (Sonora).

Discussion

Arida carnosa is recognized by its subshrubby habit, glabrous, glaucous, and succulent stems, reduced scalelike leaves, and absence of ray florets. It occurs in or around alkaline salt flats, where it is associated with other salt-tolerant genera such as Sarcobatus, Distichlis, and Atriplex.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Arida carnosa"
Ronald L. Hartman +  and David J. Bogler +
(A. Gray) D. R. Morgan & R. L. Hartman +
Linosyris carnosa +
Shrubby alkali tansy-aster +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, Nev. +  and Mexico (Sonora). +
100–1600 m +
Alkaline flats, canyons, meadows +
Flowering Aug–Sep. +
Leucosyris carnosa +, Leucosyris carnosa var. intricata +, Machaeranthera carnosa +  and Machaeranthera carnosa var. intricata +
Arida carnosa +
species +