Microseris paludosa
Encyclopedia
Microseris paludosa is a species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common name marsh microseris. It is endemic to California
, where it has a scattered distribution between southern Mendocino
and northern San Luis Obispo Counties
, mainly near the coast. Its habitat includes coastal scrub and grassland
and coniferous forest.
is borne on an erect or curving peduncle
. The flower head
contains up to 70 yellow ray florets.
The fruit is an achene
with a whitish body a few millimeters long. At the tip of the body is a large pappus
made up of 5 to 10 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 marsh microseris. 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 has a scattered distribution between southern Mendocino
Mendocino County, California
Mendocino County is a county located on the north coast of the U.S. state of California, north of the greater San Francisco Bay Area and west of the Central Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 87,841, up from 86,265 at the 2000 census...
and northern San Luis Obispo Counties
San Luis Obispo County, California
San Luis Obispo County is a county located along the Pacific Ocean in the Central Coast of the U.S. state of California, between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census its population was 269,637, up from 246,681 at the 2000 census...
, mainly near the coast. Its habitat includes coastal scrub and grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
and coniferous forest.
Description
This is a perennial herb growing up to 70 centimeters tall with a branching stem. The leaves are up to 35 centimeters in length and smooth, toothed or lobed along the edges. The somewhat hairy 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 an erect or curving 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....
contains up to 70 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 whitish 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 5 to 10 long, bristly scales.