Pulicaria paludosa
Encyclopedia
Pulicaria paludosa is a species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common name Spanish false fleabane. It is native to Europe, particularly Spain
and Portugal
, and it is known as an introduced species
in California
, where it grows as a weed on roadsides and other damp, disturbed areas. It is an annual, biennial, or perennial herb growing a few centimeters tall to well over a meter tall from a rhizomatous
root system. The leaves are alternately arranged with blades in a variety of shapes from linear to oblong or oval. The herbage is coated in soft hairs. The inflorescence
bears many flower heads
. Each head has narrow, pointed, hairy phyllaries
, a large dense center of many yellow disc florets, and a short fringe of many rectangular yellow ray florets, which are only about 2 millimeters long each. The fruit is an achene
tipped with a pappus
of bristles.
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 Spanish false fleabane. It is native to Europe, particularly Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, and it is known as an introduced species
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
in 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 grows as a weed on roadsides and other damp, disturbed areas. It is an annual, biennial, or perennial herb growing a few centimeters tall to well over a meter tall from a rhizomatous
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
root system. The leaves are alternately arranged with blades in a variety of shapes from linear to oblong or oval. The herbage is coated in soft hairs. 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...
bears many 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 has narrow, pointed, 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...
, a large dense center of many yellow disc florets, and a short fringe of many rectangular yellow ray florets, which are only about 2 millimeters long each. 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...
tipped with 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...
of bristles.