Pseudobahia bahiifolia
Encyclopedia
Pseudobahia bahiifolia is a rare species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common name Hartweg's golden sunburst.
, where it is known from a few small occurrences along the eastern side of the Central Valley and the lower central Sierra Nevada foothills. It grows in grassland and oak woodland habitat. It prefers heavy clay
soils, particularly along the tops of Mima mounds. The plant's native range is on land that has been heavily altered by agriculture
, leaving little habitat intact, and the plant became a federally listed endangered species
of the United States in 1997.
The inflorescence
is a solitary sunflowerlike flower head
lined with three to eight phyllaries
. There is one golden ray floret per phyllary, up to a centimeter in length and sometimes faintly toothed at the tip. At the center of the head are yellow disc florets. The blooming period is 3 to 4 weeks long, occurring in March and April. The fruit is an achene
about 2 millimeters long.
for residential development. About 90% of all individuals of this species occur in two main locations, one of which was scheduled to be cleared for housing construction when the plant was listed as an Endangered species
.
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 Hartweg's golden sunburst.
Distribution
Pseudobahia bahiifolia is endemic to CaliforniaCalifornia
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 from a few small occurrences along the eastern side of the Central Valley and the lower central Sierra Nevada foothills. It grows in grassland and oak woodland habitat. It prefers heavy clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
soils, particularly along the tops of Mima mounds. The plant's native range is on land that has been heavily altered by agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, leaving little habitat intact, and the plant became a federally listed 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...
of the United States in 1997.
Description
This species, Pseudobahia bahiifolia, is an annual herb growing 5 to 20 centimeters tall. It has a thin coating of woolly hairs. The linear or lance-shaped leaves are up to 2.5 centimeters long and often have three small lobes near the tips.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 a solitary sunflowerlike flower head
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
lined with three to eight 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...
. There is one golden ray floret per phyllary, up to a centimeter in length and sometimes faintly toothed at the tip. At the center of the head are yellow disc florets. The blooming period is 3 to 4 weeks long, occurring in March and April. 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 2 millimeters long.
Endangered
The main threat to its remaining populations is destruction of its habitatHabitat
* 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...
for residential development. About 90% of all individuals of this species occur in two main locations, one of which was scheduled to be cleared for housing construction when the plant was 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...
.