Conoclinium
in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 5: 135. 1836.
Perennials, 50–200 cm (usually rhizomatous, colonial, rhizomes relatively slender). Stems erect to decumbent (sometimes rooting at proximal nodes), not much branched distal to bases. Leaves cauline; opposite; petiolate; blades usually 3-nerved from bases, deltate, oblanceolate, ovate, ovate-deltate, oblong, or triangular, margins dentate or lobed (to dissected in C. dissectum), faces glabrate to puberulous, villosulous, or hispidulous, gland-dotted. Heads discoid, in tight, corymbiform arrays. Involucres hemispheric, 3–6 mm diam. Phyllaries persistent, ca. 25 in 2–3 series, obscurely 2–3-nerved, lanceolate to linear, ± equal (herbaceous). Receptacles conic, epaleate. Florets 35–70+; corollas usually blue to purple or violet, rarely white, throats narrowly funnelform (lengths ca. 4 times diams.); styles: bases not enlarged, glabrous, branches filiform to linear-clavate. Cypselae prismatic (bases narrowed), 5-ribbed, glabrous or sparsely gland-dotted and/or hispidulous; pappi persistent, of ca. 30 barbellate bristles in 1 series. x = 10.
Distribution
sw, e North America, Mexico.
Discussion
Species 4 (3 in the flora).
Selected References
Key
1 | Leaf blades deeply dissected or lobed (lobes dentate, apices sharply pointed or rounded) | Conoclinium dissectum |
1 | Leaf blades serrate to dentate or crenate (not dissected or lobed) | > 2 |
2 | Leaf blades usually oblong to oblong-lanceolate, sometimes triangular, bases truncate to cordate (often subauriculate), apices rounded to obtuse; tips of pappus bristles dilated | Conoclinium betonicifolium |
2 | Leaf blades triangular to deltate or ovate, bases usually cuneate to truncate, rarely subcordate (not subauriculate), apices acute; tips of pappus bristles not dilated | Conoclinium coelestinum |