Madia anomala
Encyclopedia
Madia anomala is a species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common name plumpseeded madia. It is endemic to northern California
, where it can be found on hillsides in the San Francisco Bay Area
and adjacent mountains and valleys. It is an annual herb growing 20 to 50 centimeters tall with a bristly, glandular, branching stem. The hairy, glandular leaves are several centimeters long. The inflorescence
is a cluster of flower heads
. Each head is a spherical involucre of hairy phyllaries
covered in knobby resin glands. It spreads at the top with several yellow ray florets a few millimeters long and black-tipped disc florets. The fruit is a shiny black achene
with no 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 plumpseeded madia. It is endemic to northern 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 can be found on hillsides in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
and adjacent mountains and valleys. It is an annual herb growing 20 to 50 centimeters tall with a bristly, glandular, branching stem. The hairy, glandular leaves are several centimeters long. 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...
is a cluster 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....
. Each head is a spherical involucre of 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...
covered in knobby resin glands. It spreads at the top with several yellow ray florets a few millimeters long and black-tipped disc florets. The fruit is a shiny black achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
with no 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...
.