Hulsea brevifolia
Encyclopedia
Hulsea brevifolia is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family
known by the common name shortleaf alpinegold, or shortleaf hulsea. It is endemic to California
, where it is an uncommon resident of the High Sierra. This is a perennial herb producing loose tufts of erect stems 30 to 60 centimeters tall. The green stems and foliage are covered in glandular hairs. The faintly toothed leaves occur basally and also along the stems. They are 5 to 6 centimeters long and have petioles
with stiff hairs along the edges. The daisylike flower heads
are up to 2 centimeters wide and have long, hairy, lance-shaped green phyllaries
. The center of the head is filled thickly with long yellow disc florets and the circumference is lined with many yellow ray florets. The fruit is an achene
6 to 8 centimeters long bearing a pappus
which may be red-tinged.
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 shortleaf alpinegold, or shortleaf hulsea. 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 an uncommon resident of the High Sierra. This is a perennial herb producing loose tufts of erect stems 30 to 60 centimeters tall. The green stems and foliage are covered in glandular hairs. The faintly toothed leaves occur basally and also along the stems. They are 5 to 6 centimeters long and have 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...
with stiff hairs along the edges. The daisylike flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
are up to 2 centimeters wide and have long, hairy, lance-shaped green 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...
. The center of the head is filled thickly with long yellow disc florets and the circumference is lined with many yellow 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...
6 to 8 centimeters long bearing 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...
which may be red-tinged.