Psathyrotopsis

Perennials, 8–40 cm (sometimes functionally annual; caudices often ± woody). Stems 1–3+ (scapiform), erect, branched from bases or throughout. Leaves mostly basal; alternate; petiolate; blades rounded-deltate, lanceolate, or rhombic, margins crenate, serrate, or subentire, faces ± tomentose and stipitate-glandular. Heads discoid, borne singly or in corymbiform arrays. Involucres campanulate to hemispheric, 4–6(–10) mm diam. Phyllaries persistent, 8–21 in 2–3 series (lanceolate to linear, subequal, sparsely tomentulose and stipitate-glandular). Receptacles flat, obscurely pitted or knobby, epaleate. Ray florets 0. Disc florets 16–50, bisexual, fertile; corollas ochroleucous to bright yellow, (cylindro-funnelform) tubes much shorter than throats, lobes 5, (erect or spreading) deltate (style-branch appendages subulate to conic, shaggy-papillate). Cypselae narrowly obconic; pappi persistent, of 70–90 unequal bristles in 2–3 series. x = 19.

Distribution

sw United States, Mexico.

Discussion

Species 3 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

Strother, J. L. and G. E. Pilz. 1975. Taxonomy of Psathyrotes (Compositae: Senecioneae). Madroño 23: 24–40.

Lower Taxa

Psathyrotopsis scaposa