Hesperevax sparsiflora
Encyclopedia
Hesperevax sparsiflora is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family
known by the common name erect dwarf cudweed. It is native to California
and Oregon
, where it grows in several habitat types including sandy coastal areas and the serpentine soil
s of inland hills. This is a small woolly annual herb reaching maximum heights under 18 centimeters. It has oval to rounded or scoop-shaped leaves on short petioles
which vary in morphology across varieties. Small flower heads
appear between the leaves. They contain greenish or whitish disc florets.
There are two varieties:
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 erect dwarf cudweed. It is native 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...
and Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, where it grows in several habitat types including sandy coastal areas and the serpentine soil
Serpentine soil
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle....
s of inland hills. This is a small woolly annual herb reaching maximum heights under 18 centimeters. It has oval to rounded or scoop-shaped leaves on short petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
which vary in morphology across varieties. Small flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
appear between the leaves. They contain greenish or whitish disc florets.
There are two varieties:
- H. s. var. brevifolia (short-leaved evax) is an uncommon coastal variety with leaves generally under a centimeter long
- H. s. var. sparsiflora is a longer-leaved variety which is more common but limited to California