Layia septentrionalis
Encyclopedia
Layia septentrionalis is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the daisy family
known by the common name Colusa tidytips, or Colusa layia.
It is endemic to California
, where it is known only from the Coast Ranges north of the San Francisco Bay Area
and the Sutter Buttes
in the Central Valley. It is sometimes a member of the serpentine soil
s flora.
contain toothed yellow ray florets and yellow disc florets with yellow anthers
. The fruit is an achene
; fruits on the disc florets have a long white pappus
of plumelike bristles.
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 Colusa tidytips, or Colusa 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 is known only from the Coast Ranges north of the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
and the Sutter Buttes
Sutter Buttes
The Sutter Buttes are a small circular complex of eroded volcanic lava domes which rise as buttes above the flat plains of the Central Valley of California in the United States. The highest peak, South Butte, reaches about above sea level. The Buttes are located just outside of Yuba City,...
in the Central Valley. It is sometimes a member of the serpentine soil
Serpentine soil
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle....
s flora.
Description
This is a small annual herb producing a glandular stem up to about 35 centimeters tall. The leaves are linear to lance-shaped, with the lower ones lobed and up to about 7 centimeters in length. The daisylike flower headsHead (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
contain toothed yellow ray florets and yellow disc florets with yellow anthers
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
. The fruit is an achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
; fruits on the disc florets have a long 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...
of plumelike bristles.