Monoptilon bellidiforme
Encyclopedia
Monoptilon bellidiforme is a species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common name daisy desertstar. It is native to the desert southwest of the United States, where it grows in typical desert habitat such as sandy flats and washes. It is similar to the other Monoptilon, M. bellioides, but it is usually smaller. Its stem is just a few centimeters long, sometimes small enough so that the inflorescence
sits at ground level. The leaves are no more than a centimeter long. The flower head
has many ray florets which are usually white, sometimes purple-tinged. They are 5 to 7 millimeters long. The fruit is an achene
about half a centimeter long including the pappus
, which is an elongated bristle surrounded by fused 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 daisy desertstar. It is native to the desert southwest of the United States, where it grows in typical desert habitat such as sandy flats and washes. It is similar to the other Monoptilon, M. bellioides, but it is usually smaller. Its stem is just a few centimeters long, sometimes small enough so that 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...
sits at ground level. The leaves are no more than a centimeter long. 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 many ray florets which are usually white, sometimes purple-tinged. They are 5 to 7 millimeters long. 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...
about half a centimeter long including the 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...
, which is an elongated bristle surrounded by fused scales.