Microseris campestris
Encyclopedia
Microseris campestris is a species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common name San Joaquin silverpuffs. It is endemic to California
, where it grows in the San Joaquin Valley
and adjacent Sierra Nevada foothills, and the central California Coast Ranges. It is a resident of grassland and open slope habitat
s, sometimes near vernal pool
s.
The inflorescence
is borne on a peduncle
arising from ground level. The flower head
contains up to 100 white or yellow ray florets. The fruit is an achene
with a gray or brown, sometimes speckled body a few millimeters long. At the tip of the body is a large pappus
made up of five long, bristly scales.
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 San Joaquin silverpuffs. 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 grows in the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
and adjacent Sierra Nevada foothills, and the central California Coast Ranges. It is a resident of grassland and open slope habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s, sometimes near vernal pool
Vernal pool
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water. They are usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species...
s.
Description
Microseris campestris is an annual herb growing up to half a meter-1.5 feet tall from a basal rosette of erect leaves; there is no true stem. Each leaf is up to 20 centimeters long and has edges divided into many lobes.The 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...
is borne on a 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...
arising from ground level. 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....
contains up to 100 white or yellow ray florets. 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...
with a gray or brown, sometimes speckled body a few millimeters long. At the tip of the body is a large 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...
made up of five long, bristly scales.