Lasthenia fremontii
Encyclopedia
Lasthenia fremontii is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family
known by the common name Frémont's goldfields (after John C. Frémont
). It is endemic to the California Central Valley, where it grows in vernal pool
s and meadows. This is an annual herb approaching a maximum height near 35 centimeters. The hairy stem may be branched or not and it bears linear or few-lobed leaves up to about 6 centimeters long. Atop the stems are inflorescence
s of flower heads
with hairy phyllaries
. The head contains many tufted yellow disc florets with a fringe of small yellow or occasionally white ray florets. The fruit is a hairy club-shaped achene
less than 2 millimeters long.
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 Frémont's goldfields (after John C. Frémont
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
). It is endemic to the California Central Valley, where it grows in vernal pool
Vernal pool
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water. They are usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species...
s and meadows. This is an annual herb approaching a maximum height near 35 centimeters. The hairy stem may be branched or not and it bears linear or few-lobed leaves up to about 6 centimeters long. Atop the stems are 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...
s of flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
with hairy 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 head contains many tufted yellow disc florets with a fringe of small yellow or occasionally white ray florets. The fruit is a hairy club-shaped achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
less than 2 millimeters long.