Erigeron multiceps
Encyclopedia
Erigeron multiceps is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family
known by the common names Kern River daisy and Kern River fleabane. It is endemic to California
, where it is known mostly from the Kern Plateau in the southern High Sierra Nevada of eastern Tulare County
. It is a perennial herb growing a hairy stem up to about 20 centimeters tall from a taproot
and caudex
. The base of the stem is surrounded by oblong leaves 2 to 5 centimeters long, and there are some smaller leaves along the length of the stem. The inflorescence
produces hairy, glandular flower heads
filled with yellow disc florets and a fringe of up to 125 thin, flat white to purple-tinged ray florets. The fruit is an achene
with a pappus
of bristles.
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 Kern River daisy and Kern River fleabane. It is endemic to California
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 mostly from the Kern Plateau in the southern High Sierra Nevada of eastern Tulare County
Tulare County, California
Tulare County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Fresno. Sequoia National Park is located in the county, as are part of Kings Canyon National Park, in its northeast corner , and part of Mount Whitney, on its eastern border...
. It is a perennial herb growing a hairy stem up to about 20 centimeters tall from a 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...
. The base of the stem is surrounded by oblong leaves 2 to 5 centimeters long, and there are some smaller leaves along the length of the stem. 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...
produces hairy, glandular flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
filled with yellow disc florets and a fringe of up to 125 thin, flat white to purple-tinged ray florets. 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...
with a 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...
of bristles.