Glyptopleura

Annuals, 1–6 cm (low-growing, densely cespitose, herbage glabrous); taprooted. Stems 1–25+, ± prostrate, simple or branched, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, crowded; petiolate or sessile; basal blades ± oblanceolate, margins dentate or pinnately lobed and crustose-denticulate, cauline progressively reduced to oblanceolate, crustose-denticulate bracts. Heads (1–3) borne singly or 2–3 in bract axils. Peduncles not distally inflated, often bracteate. Calyculi of 5–8, linear to oblanceolate bractlets in ± 1 series, apices expanded, crustose-denticulate. Involucres cylindric to urceolate, 3–8+ mm diam. Phyllaries 5–8+ in 1–2 series, commonly purplish-tinged, linear, equal, margins scarious, apices acute. Receptacles ± flat, smooth, glabrous, epaleate. Florets 7–18; corollas white to pale yellow, becoming pink-purple (especially when dry). Cypselae straw-colored or light brown, subcylindric or slightly flattened, often curved, abruptly beaked, obtusely 4–5-angled, ribs transversely roughened, alternating with 5 rows of pits, glabrous or minutely puberulent; pappi falling (outer, individually) or ± persistent (inner, connate at bases in easily fractured rings), of 50–80+, white, barbellulate to smooth bristles in 3–4+ series. x = 9.

Distribution

w United States.

Discussion

Species 2 (2 in the flora).

A molecular phylogenetic investigation by J. Lee et. al (2003) provided evidence that Glyptopleura is part of a primarily western North American radiation in Cichorieae. That study did not resolve the relationship of Glyptopleura to other genera within the radiation.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Glyptopleura marginata, Glyptopleura setulosa

Key

1	Ligules 4–10 mm, equaling involucres or exserted 1–5 mm	Glyptopleura marginata
1	Ligules 15–25 mm, exserted 10–20 mm	Glyptopleura setulosa