Erigeron reductus
Encyclopedia
Erigeron reductus is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family
known by the common name lesser California rayless fleabane. It is endemic to California
, where it grows in rocky habitat in several mountain ranges in the northern part of the state. It is a perennial herb producing several spreading to erect stems up to 20 or 30 centimeters long from a woody caudex
and root system. Each stem is lined evenly with small, thready leaves and topped with an inflorescence
of one or more flower heads
. Each glandular flower head is up to a centimeter wide and bears many yellow disc florets and no 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 name lesser California rayless 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 grows in rocky habitat in several mountain ranges in the northern part of the state. It is a perennial herb producing several spreading to erect stems up to 20 or 30 centimeters long from a woody 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...
and root system. Each stem is lined evenly with small, thready leaves and topped with an 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...
of one or more flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
. Each glandular flower head is up to a centimeter wide and bears many yellow disc florets and no 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.