Agnorhiza invenusta
Encyclopedia
Agnorhiza invenusta is a species of flowering plant known by the common name Coville's mule's ears. It is endemic to California
, where it is known only from a section of the southern Sierra Nevada and its foothills. It occurs in chaparral
, woodlands, and pine
forests. It is a perennial herb growing from a thick taproot
and caudex
unit. The hairy, glandular stem grows up to a meter tall. The leaves have triangular or oval blades up to 15 to 20 centimeters long. The inflorescence
is made up of one or more flower head
s. The head has lance-shaped phyllaries
which may be over 3 centimeters long. There are usually no ray florets, but there may be 2 or 3. The fruit is an achene
nearly a centimeter long with no pappus
.
California
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 only from a section of the southern Sierra Nevada and its foothills. It occurs in chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
, woodlands, and pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
forests. It is a perennial herb growing from a thick taproot
Taproot
A taproot is an enlarged, somewhat straight to tapering plant root that grows vertically downward. It forms a center from which other roots sprout laterally.Plants with taproots are difficult to transplant...
and caudex
Caudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
unit. The hairy, glandular stem grows up to a meter tall. The leaves have triangular or oval blades up to 15 to 20 centimeters long. 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 made up of one or more flower head
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
s. The head has lance-shaped 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...
which may be over 3 centimeters long. There are usually no ray florets, but there may be 2 or 3. 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...
nearly a centimeter long with no 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...
.