Xylorhiza

Perennials, subshrubs, or shrubs, 10–80(–150) cm (taproots woody, branched, caudices persistent). Stems (often white-barked) erect, branched, glabrous or villous to tomentose, sometimes stipitate-glandular. Leaves cauline; alternate; sessile or subpetiolate; blades mostly 1-nerved, linear to lanceolate or oblanceolate, oblong, or narrowly elliptic, margins entire or dentate-spinulose (apices acute), faces glabrous or sparsely tomentose to villous, sometimes stipitate-glandular. Heads radiate, borne singly (terminal on ebracteate peduncles). Involucres campanulate to hemispheric, 7–20 × 12–40(–48) mm. Phyllaries 25–45 in 3–6 series, 1-nerved (keeled), narrowly lanceolate, unequal, proximally white-indurate, margins scarious (apices green, erect or spreading), abaxial faces glabrous or sparsely tomentose to villous, sometimes stipitate-glandular. Receptacles flat, pitted, epaleate. Ray florets (4–)12–60(–85), pistillate, fertile; corollas white to light blue or purple (coiling at maturity). Disc florets 30–140, bisexual, fertile; corollas yellowish, tubes slightly shorter to longer than narrowly funnelform throats, lobes 5, spreading, triangular; style-branch appendages lanceolate. Cypselae (brownish) fusiform to linear or ovoid, ± compressed to subterete, 4-ribbed, faces sericeous (hairs subappressed, long, silky); pappi persistent, of 30–45 tawny, stout, unequal, often flattened, barbellate, apically attenuate bristles in 2–3 series. x = 6.

Distribution

sw United States, nw Mexico.

Discussion

Species 10 (9 in the flora).

Xylorhiza species were considered by A. Cronquist and D. D. Keck (1957) to be primitive members of the genus Machaeranthera, where they were recently maintained (Cronquist 1994). T. J. Watson (1977) and other contemporary botanists, however, have recognized Xylorhiza as a distinct genus characterized by the following features: perennial herbs, subshrubs, and shrubs from large, woody taproots with woody, branched, persistent caudices; large, single heads; long phyllaries with erect or spreading apices; white or bluish rays; large cypselae; and vernal flowering. The base chromosome number of Xylorhiza (x = 6) also contrasts with that of Machaeranthera (x = 4 or 5). Two sections were recognized by Watson: sect. Xylorhiza (subshrubs or perennial herbs) and sect. Californica T. J. Watson (shrubs, including X. cognata, X. orcuttii, and the Mexican endemic X. frutescens).

Selected References

Watson, T. J. 1977. The taxonomy of Xylorhiza (Asteraceae–Astereae). Brittonia 29: 199–216.

Lower Taxa

Xylorhiza cognata, Xylorhiza confertifolia, Xylorhiza cronquistii, Xylorhiza glabriuscula, Xylorhiza linearifolia, Xylorhiza orcuttii, Xylorhiza tortifolia, Xylorhiza venusta, Xylorhiza wrightii

Key

1	Leaf margins all or nearly all entire	> 2
1	Leaf margins (many of them) toothed	> 5
2	Leaf blades mostly 1–2.5 mm wide, margins involute	Xylorhiza confertifolia
2	Leaf blades mostly (2–)2.5–15 mm wide, margins flat	> 3
3	Leaf blades linear-oblong to linear-lanceolate, bases truncate or rounded-auriculate	Xylorhiza linearifolia
3	Leaf blades oblanceolate to oblong-spatulate, bases tapering	> 4
4	Stems leafy for 2/3 + their lengths; peduncles 2–6 cm; involucres 7–14 × 12–25 mm	Xylorhiza glabriuscula
4	Stems leafy in proximal 1/2 – 2/3; peduncles 5–20 cm; involucres 12–20 × 20–35 mm	Xylorhiza venusta
5	Shrubs; stems branched to near apices; style-branch appendages shorter than stigmatic lines; s California	> 6
5	Subshrubs or perennials; stems branched mostly in proximal 3/4; style-branch appendages longer or shorter than stigmatic lines; various regions	> 7
6	Younger stems and branchlets stipitate-glandular; phyllaries loosely appressed, out-ermost stipitate-glandular (at least margins), innermost shorter than mid	Xylorhiza cognata
6	Younger stems and branchlets eglandular; phyllaries tightly appressed; outermost glabrous, innermost equaling or longer than mid	Xylorhiza orcuttii
7	Leaf blades spatulate to obovate or oblong, rarely elliptic; Texas	Xylorhiza wrightii
7	Leaf blades linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, oblanceolate, or elliptic-oblong; n to w of Texas	> 8
8	Leaf blades 2.5–6 mm wide, usually shallowly spinulose-toothed, sometimes entire; rays 13–17, white	Xylorhiza cronquistii
8	Leaf blades 3–20(–25) mm wide, sharply spinulose-toothed; rays (15–)18–60(–85), usually lavender, seldom white	Xylorhiza tortifolia