Psilocarphus tenellus
Encyclopedia
Psilocarphus tenellus is a species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common names slender woollyheads and slender woolly marbles. It is native to western North America from far southwestern British Columbia
to Baja California
, where it grows in seasonally wet habitat, such as vernal pool
s, as well as coastline and disturbed areas.
is a spherical flower head
no more than half a centimeter wide. It is a cluster of several tiny woolly disc flowers surrounded by leaflike bract
s but no phyllaries
. Each tiny flower is covered in a scale which is densely woolly with long white fibers, making the developing head appear cottony.
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 names slender woollyheads and slender woolly marbles. It is native to western North America from far southwestern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, where it grows in seasonally wet habitat, such as 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, as well as coastline and disturbed areas.
Description
This is a small annual herb producing several stems a few centimeters long which are coated in thin to thick woolly fibers. The leaves are lance-shaped to oblong and under 2 centimeters in length. The 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 a spherical flower head
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
no more than half a centimeter wide. It is a cluster of several tiny woolly disc flowers surrounded by leaflike bract
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...
s but no 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...
. Each tiny flower is covered in a scale which is densely woolly with long white fibers, making the developing head appear cottony.