Sphaeromeria potentilloides
Encyclopedia
Sphaeromeria potentilloides is a species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common names false chickensage and fivefinger chickensage. It is native to the western United States, where it is known from the Great Basin
and surrounding regions. It grows in moist areas, especially places with alkaline substrates such as hot spring
s and seeps
. This perennial herb produces spreading stems from a woody caudex
. The gray-green woolly leaves are divided into several lobes or leaflets which are subdivided into smaller lobes. The inflorescence
is generally a cluster of a few flower heads
lined with hairy phyllaries
and containing yellow disc florets. There are no ray florets. The fruit is a tiny ribbed achene
which swells up and becomes gluey in texture when it is moistened.
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 false chickensage and fivefinger chickensage. It is native to the western United States, where it is known from the Great Basin
Great Basin
The Great Basin is the largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds in North America and is noted for its arid conditions and Basin and Range topography that varies from the North American low point at Badwater Basin to the highest point of the contiguous United States, less than away at the...
and surrounding regions. It grows in moist areas, especially places with alkaline substrates such as hot spring
Hot spring
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...
s and seeps
Seep (hydrology)
A Seep is a moist or wet place where water, usually groundwater, reaches the earth's surface from an underground aquifer.-Description:Seeps are usually not of sufficient volume to be flowing beyond their above-ground location. They are part of the limnology-geomorphology system...
. This perennial herb produces spreading stems from a woody caudex
Caudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
. The gray-green woolly leaves are divided into several lobes or leaflets which are subdivided into smaller lobes. 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 generally a cluster of a few flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
lined 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...
and containing yellow disc florets. There are no ray florets. The fruit is a tiny ribbed achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
which swells up and becomes gluey in texture when it is moistened.