Isotype of Pectis papposaHarvey & Gray [family ASTERACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by S. Whitcomb, 2009
Related name
Pectis papposa
Common name
Common chinchweed, Flora of North America Vol. 21
Flora
Entry for Pectis papposa Harvey & A. Gray [family COMPOSITAE]
Herbarium
Flora of North America (FNA)
Collection
Flora of North America
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of North America, Vol 21,
Names
Pectis papposaHarvey & A. Gray [family COMPOSITAE], Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts, n. s., 4: 62. 1849
Treatment Author(s)
David J. Keil
Information
Annuals, 1–30 cm (often forming rounded bushes); herbage spicy-scented. Stems ascending, glabrous or puberulent. Leaves linear, 10–60 × 1–2 mm, margins with 1–3 pairs of setae, faces glabrous (dotted on margins with round to oval oil-glands 0.3–0.5 mm). Heads in congested or open, cymiform arrays. Peduncles 3–40 mm. Involucres campanulate to cylindric. Phyllaries distinct, linear, 3–8 × 0.5–1.7 mm (dotted with 1–5 subterminal oil-glands plus 2–5 pairs of submarginal oil-glands). Ray florets (7–)8(–10); corollas 3–8 mm. Disc florets 6–34; corollas 2–5.5 mm (weakly 2-lipped, glabrous or glandular-puberulent). Cypselae 2–5.5 mm, strigillose to short-pilose (hair tips curled, bulbous); ray pappi usually coroniform, rarely of 1+ awns or bristles 1–4 mm; disc pappi usually of 16–24, subplumose bristles 1.5–4 mm, rarely coroniform.
Distribution
sw United Statesnw Mexico.
Discussion
Pectis papposa generally flowers following summer monsoon rains in the desert of southwestern United States and northern Mexico. In favorable years, it becomes an aspect dominant, coloring wide areas of the desert with its bright yellow heads.
