Palafoxia arida
Encyclopedia
Palafoxia arida is a species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common names desert palafox and Spanish needle. It is native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is an annual herb producing an erect, branching, glandular stem. There are two varieties, with the larger, Palafoxia arida var. gigantea
, reaching two meters in maximum height. The rough-haired leaves are linear or lance-shaped and may exceed 10 centimeters long. The inflorescence
is an array of up to 40 flower heads
. The cylindrical heads are about 2 to 3 centimeters long, lined with long, pointed phyllaries
, and bearing up to 40 pink or white tubular disc florets. The fruit is an achene
over a centimeter long including the 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 names desert palafox and Spanish needle. It is native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is an annual herb producing an erect, branching, glandular stem. There are two varieties, with the larger, Palafoxia arida var. gigantea
Palafoxia arida var. gigantea
Palafoxia arida, var. gigantea, is a species of flowering plant from the sunflower family , genus Palafoxia...
, reaching two meters in maximum height. The rough-haired leaves are linear or lance-shaped and may exceed 10 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 an array of up to 40 flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
. The cylindrical heads are about 2 to 3 centimeters long, lined with long, pointed 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...
, and bearing up to 40 pink or white tubular disc 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...
over a centimeter long including the 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...
.