Layia chrysanthemoides
Encyclopedia
Layia chrysanthemoides is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family
known by the common name smooth tidytips, or smooth layia.
It is endemic to California
, where it lives in several types of habitat along the coast an in inland hills and valleys, and the Central Valley.
The flower heads
are cups of hairy-edged phyllaries
with a fringe of white-tipped golden ray florets around a tightly packed center of yellow disc florets with purple anthers
. The fruit is an achene
; fruits on the disc florets often have a white bristly pappus
.
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 smooth tidytips, or smooth layia.
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 lives in several types of habitat along the coast an in inland hills and valleys, and the Central Valley.
Description
This is an annual herb producing an erect, nonglandular stem to a maximum height near half a meter. The leaves are linear or lance-shaped with prickly or fuzzy edges. The lower leaves may be lobed and grow up to about 10 centimeters long.The 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 cups of hairy-edged 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...
with a fringe of white-tipped golden ray florets around a tightly packed center of yellow disc florets with purple anthers
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
. 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...
; fruits on the disc florets often have a white bristly 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...
.