Cacaliopsis
Encyclopedia
Cacaliopsis is a monotypic genus in the daisy family
which contains the single species Cacaliopsis nardosmia (formerly Cacalia nardosmia), which is known by the common name silvercrown. This is a rhizomatous
perennial native to the forests and moist meadows of the west coast of North America, from northern California
to southern British Columbia
. It forms a basal patch of lush, widely lobed shiny green leaves and erect reddish stems bearing inflorescence
s of flowers. The tiny yellow curly-tipped disc flowers are packed into flower heads
. The fruit is a small cylindrical achene
with a bristly white pappus
.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
which contains the single species Cacaliopsis nardosmia (formerly Cacalia nardosmia), which is known by the common name silvercrown. This is a rhizomatous
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
perennial native to the forests and moist meadows of the west coast of North America, from northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to southern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. It forms a basal patch of lush, widely lobed shiny green leaves and erect reddish stems bearing inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s of flowers. The tiny yellow curly-tipped disc flowers are packed into flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
. The fruit is a small cylindrical achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
with a bristly white pappus
Pappus (flower structure)
The pappus is the modified calyx, the part of an individual disk, ray or ligule floret surrounding the base of the corolla, in flower heads of the plant family Asteraceae. The pappus may be composed of bristles , awns, scales, or may be absent. In some species, the pappus is too small to see...
.