Lasthenia gracilis

(de Candolle) Greene

Man. Bot. San Francisco, 206. 1894.

Common names: Common goldfields
Illustrated
Basionym: Burrielia gracilis de Candolle in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 5: 664. 1836
Synonyms: Baeria chrysostoma subsp. gracilis (de Candolle) Ferris Baeria gracilis (de Candolle) A. Gray
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 21. Treatment on page 340. Mentioned on page 337, 338.

Annuals, to 40 cm. Stems erect or decumbent, usually branched distally (sometimes proximally in desert forms), ± hairy (more so distally). Leaves linear to oblanceolate, 8–40(–70) × 1–3(–6) mm, (± fleshy in coastal forms) margins entire or with 3–5+ teeth, faces ± hairy. Involucres campanulate or hemispheric, 5–10 mm. Phyllaries (persistent or falling with cypselae) 4–13 (in 1 series), ovate-lanceolate to oblong, ± hairy. Receptacles conic, muricate, glabrous. Ray florets 6–13; laminae oblong, 5–10 mm. Anther appendages deltate. Cypselae black to gray, ± linear, to 3 mm, glabrous or hairy; pappi usually of (2–)4(–6) opaque, white (aging to brown), ovate-lanceolate, aristate scales, sometimes 0. 2n = 16, 32.


Phenology: Flowering Feb–Jun.
Habitat: Mostly open sites (virtually all habitats)
Elevation: 0–1500 m

Distribution

V21-846-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Calif., Mexico (Baja California, Sonora).

Discussion

D. D. Keck (1959c) said of Lasthenia gracilis (as Baeria chrysostoma subsp. gracilis), “The most abundant composite in the state [of California].” It is widespread throughout California, central Arizona, the Channel Islands, Guadalupe Island, and Baja California. It is variable and is sometimes similar to L. californica subsp. californica, from which it differs in its opaque, white, ovate-lanceolate, aristate pappus scales. Coastal forms of L. gracilis tend to have shorter, wider, fleshy leaves. Lasthenia gracilis often occurs with other Lasthenia species.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Lasthenia gracilis"
Raymund Chan +  and Robert Ornduff† +
(de Candolle) Greene +
Burrielia gracilis +
Common goldfields +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, Mexico (Baja California +  and Sonora). +
0–1500 m +
Mostly open sites (virtually all habitats) +
Flowering Feb–Jun. +
Man. Bot. San Francisco, +
Illustrated +
Baeria chrysostoma subsp. gracilis +  and Baeria gracilis +
Lasthenia gracilis +
Lasthenia sect. Amphiachaenia +
species +