Thymophylla pentachaeta
Fl. S.E. U.S., 1295, 1341. 1903.
Perennials or subshrubs, ± grayish to green, to 15(–25) cm, usually puberulent to canescent, sometimes glabrescent or glabrous. Stems erect or spreading. Leaves mostly opposite; blades mostly pinnately lobed, 6–28+ mm overall, lobes 3–11 linear to filiform (usually stiff, setiform). Peduncles 20–100 mm, puberulent or glabrous. Calyculi 0, or of 1–5 deltate bractlets, lengths less than 1/2 phyllaries. Involucres obconic to campanulate or hemispheric, 4–6 mm. Phyllaries 12–21, margins of outer distinct 1/5 to nearly all their lengths, abaxial faces puberulent or glabrous. Ray florets (8–)12–21; corollas yellow to orange-yellow, laminae 2–6(–8) × 1–3 mm. Disc florets 16–40 or 50–80; corollas yellow, 2–4 mm (tending to zygomorphy in peripheral florets in some plants). Cypselae 2–3 mm; pappi of 10 erose and/or aristate scales mostly 1–3 mm.
Distribution
sw United States, Mexico, introduced(?) in South America (Argentina).
Discussion
Varieties 4 (4 in the flora).
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
Key
| 1 | Involucres cylindric, 2–3.5 mm diam.; disc florets 16–40 | Thymophylla pentachaeta var. hartwegii |
| 1 | Involucres obconic, campanulate, or hemispheric, mostly 4–5 mm diam.; disc florets 50–80 | > 2 |
| 2 | Peduncles 20–50 mm; margins of outer phyllaries distinct almost to bases | Thymophylla pentachaeta var. belenidium |
| 2 | Peduncles (40–)50–100 mm; margins of outer phyllaries distinct less ca. 1/2 or ca. 1/3 their lengths | > 3 |
| 3 | Leaf lobes mostly 9–11; phyllaries usually glabrous or glabrescent, rarely hairy | Thymophylla pentachaeta var. pentachaeta |
| 3 | Leaf lobes mostly 5–7(–10); phyllaries densely puberulent | Thymophylla pentachaeta var. puberula |