Compilation
Gamochaeta sphacelata
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Name
Identification
Isotype of Gamochaeta sphacelata (Kunth) Cabrera [family ASTERACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by G. Nesom, 1990 (TEX), Gnaphalium pedunculosum I.M. Johnst. [family ASTERACEAE ] Verified by Not on sheet, Gnaphalium purpureum L. [family ASTERACEAE ] Verified by Not on sheet, Isotype of Gnaphalium pedunculosum I.M. Johnst. [family ASTERACEAE ] Verified by Not on sheet,
Related name
- Gnaphalium purpureum
- Gnaphalium pedunculosum
- Gamochaeta sphacelata
Common name
- Owl’s crown, Flora of North America Vol. 19
Flora
Entry for Gamochaeta sphacelata (Kunth) Cabrera [family COMPOSITAE]
Herbarium
Flora of North America (FNA)
Collection
Flora of North America
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of North America, Vol 19,
Names
Gamochaeta sphacelata (Kunth) Cabrera [family COMPOSITAE], Bol. Soc. Argent. Bot., 9: 380. 1961
Gnaphalium sphacelatum Kunth [family COMPOSITAE], in A. von Humboldt et al., Nov. Gen. Sp., 4(fol.): 67. 1818; 4(qto.): 86. 1820 (as sphacilatum)
Past names
sphacilata
Treatment Author(s)
Guy L. Nesom
Information
Annuals, 10–35(–50) cm; usually taprooted, rarely fibrous-rooted. Stems erect to ascending, densely gray-white pannose. Leaves basal and cauline, basal usually withering before flowering; blades linear to narrowly oblanceolate (often folded along midveins), 1–4 cm × 1–3(–5) mm (distally becoming ± patent, arcuate bracts surpassing the heads), faces concolor or weakly bicolor, pannose-tomentose (± equally grayish to whitish, basal cells of hairs on adaxial faces persistent, expanded, glassy). Heads in terminal glomerules 1 cm or in interrupted, spiciform arrays 2–14 cm × 10–12(–14) mm (pressed; glomerules sometimes axillary). Involucres cylindro-campanulate, 3.5–4(–5) mm, sparsely arachnose. Phyllaries in (3–)4–5 series, outer triangular, lengths 1/3–1/2 inner, apices (brown) acute-acuminate (usually inrolled and spreading or recurved), inner triangular-lanceolate, laminae purplish (in bud) to whitish or silvery (in fruit), apices (usually striate) acute (not apiculate). Florets: bisexual 3–5; all corollas usually purplish distally. Cypselae (tan) 0.5–0.6 mm.
Phenology
jul-aug (summer), sep (fall)
Altitude range
2000–2800 m;
Distribution
MexicoSouth America (scattered).South America (fide A. L. Cabrera 1977+).South America (part 10).USA Tex.
Discussion
Gamochaeta sphacelata is recognized by its linear to narrowly oblanceolate, concolor leaves, interrupted, spiciform arrays of heads in compact axillary glomerules or on lateral branches, glomerules subtended by ± patent, arcuate bracts, dark brown involucres, and acute-acuminate, recurving tips of outer and mid phyllaries. Roots are typically lignescent taproots. As in G. purpurea, the basal cells of each hair on adaxial leaf faces are persistent, expanded, and glassy.