Layia carnosa
Encyclopedia
Layia carnosa is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family
known by the common name beach tidytips, or beach layia. It is endemic to California
, where it lives in beach habitat. It is known from several areas of mostly fragmented coastal habitat, and it is listed as an endangered species
on the California state and federal levels.
is borne on a short peduncle
. The flower head
has a base of overlapping green phyllaries
which form a cup to hold several small white ray florets. The center is filled with yellow disc florets with purple anthers
.
The fruits are small achene
s of two types. The ray florets yield hairy, curved fruits with no pappus
, while the disc florets yield fruits with a long, hairlike 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...
known by the common name beach tidytips, or beach layia. It is endemic to 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...
, where it lives in beach habitat. It is known from several areas of mostly fragmented coastal habitat, and it is listed as an endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
on the California state and federal levels.
Description
This is a petite annual herb producing a short, glandular stem along the ground or somewhat upright to a maximum length of about 18 centimeters. The fleshy green leaves are oval in shape, with the larger ones roughly lobed and up to 4 or 5 centimeters in length. The inflorescenceInflorescence
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...
is borne on a short peduncle
Peduncle (botany)
In botany, a peduncle is a stem supporting an inflorescence, or after fecundation, an infructescence.The peduncle is a stem, usually green and without leaves, though sometimes colored or supporting small leaves...
. The flower head
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
has a base of overlapping green phyllaries
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
which form a cup to hold several small white ray florets. The center is filled with yellow disc florets with purple anthers
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
.
The fruits are small achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
s of two types. The ray florets yield hairy, curved fruits with no 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...
, while the disc florets yield fruits with a long, hairlike pappus.