Chloracantha
Encyclopedia
Chloracantha is a monotypic plant genus in the aster family
containing the single species Chloracantha spinosa, the spiny chloracantha or Mexican devil-weed. It is native to Mexico and the southwestern United States, where it grows in moist or damp areas in otherwise dry habitat, such as desert and scrub. This is a rhizomatous
subshrub sprawling to a maximum height around two meters, the branches lined with thornlike points. The deciduous leaves are long and oblong in shape, but fall off the plant soon after developing, leaving it in the form of naked, erect branches. The flower head
is lined in linear-shaped phyllaries
dotted with orange resin glands. It bears up to 33 white ray florets which curl with age, and many golden disc florets at the center. The fruit is an achene
a few millimeters long, with a barbed pappus
.
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...
containing the single species Chloracantha spinosa, the spiny chloracantha or Mexican devil-weed. It is native to Mexico and the southwestern United States, where it grows in moist or damp areas in otherwise dry habitat, such as desert and scrub. This is a rhizomatous
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
subshrub sprawling to a maximum height around two meters, the branches lined with thornlike points. The deciduous leaves are long and oblong in shape, but fall off the plant soon after developing, leaving it in the form of naked, erect branches. The flower head
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
is lined in linear-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...
dotted with orange resin glands. It bears up to 33 white ray florets which curl with age, and many golden disc florets at the center. 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...
a few millimeters long, with a barbed 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...
.