Geraea viscida
Encyclopedia
Geraea viscida is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family
known by the common name sticky geraea, or sticky desertsunflower. It is native to southern California
, mainly the chaparral
hills of eastern San Diego County
, and northern Baja California
. This is a bristly, glandular perennial geophyte producing scrubby stems reaching anywhere from 30 centimeters to nearly a meter in height. The slightly hairy leaves are several centimeters long and generally oval-shaped, sometimes with small teeth and basal lobes. The inflorescence
holds one or more flower heads
which are knobby clusters of yellow disc florets with no ray florets. The phyllaries
surrounding the flower head are particularly sticky. The fruit is an achene
up to a centimeter long, not including its pappus
hairs.
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 sticky geraea, or sticky desertsunflower. It is native to southern 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...
, mainly the 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...
hills of eastern San Diego County
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
, and northern Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
. This is a bristly, glandular perennial geophyte producing scrubby stems reaching anywhere from 30 centimeters to nearly a meter in height. The slightly hairy leaves are several centimeters long and generally oval-shaped, sometimes with small teeth and basal lobes. 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...
holds 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....
which are knobby clusters of yellow disc florets with no ray florets. The 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...
surrounding the flower head are particularly sticky. 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...
up to a centimeter long, not including its 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...
hairs.