Heterotheca monarchensis (Sequoia False Golden-Aster)

Overview

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Critically Endangered

Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Common Names in English:

Sequoia False Golden-Aster, Monarch Goldenaster, Sequoia False Goldenaster

Description

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Family Compositae

The largest family of flowering plants , the Compositae (Asteraceae), comprising about 1,100 genera and more than 20,000 species and characterized by many small flowers arranged in a head looking like a single flower and subtended by an involucre of bracts. A head may consist of both ray flowers and disk flowers, as in the sunflower, of disk flowers only, as in the burdock, or of ray flowers only, as in the dandelion.

Genus Heterotheca

Annuals or perennials , (5-) 30-60(-200) cm (sometimes becoming shrubby through shoot persistence , with camphor odor when leaves moderately to densely stipitate-glandular ) ; stout taprooted or with woody caudices, sometimes also rhizomatous . Stems ascending-erect, branched distally, appressed-strigose and hispid , sparsely to abundantly long-hispid or -hirsute (hairs spreading , long, cells osteolate, walls minutely pustulate). Leaves basal and cauline; petiolate (petiole basal margins always coarsely, spreading-ciliate) or sessile; proximal blades 1-nerved, ovate-oblanceolate (bases tapering), hairy ; distal smaller (bases sometimes clasping ), margins (sometimes undulate ) serrate to entire, faces hispid to strigose , stipitate-glandular. Heads radiate (discoid in H. oregona), borne singly or in corymbiform arrays, sometimes becoming paniculiform . Involucres campanulate to turbinate (campanulo-hemispheric upon drying), (3-14 Ã—) 3.8-23 mm. Phyllaries 26-80 in 3-5 series, 1-nerved (usually raised; keeled proximally), lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, usually strongly unequal (usually stiff), margins scarious (sometimes distally reddish purple), sparsely to densely strigose (hairs short to long), eglandular to densely stipitate-glandular (usually more densely so distally). Receptacles slightly convex , subulate , pitted , epaleate. Ray florets (4-) 30 (0 in H. oregona), pistillate , fertile ; corollas yellow (tubes glabrate to short-pilose, laminae usually eglandular, sometimes stipitate-glandular proximally). Disc florets 9-110; corollas yellow, ampliate , tubes shorter than narrowly funnelform throats (glabrate to sparsely, minutely strigose, hairs 0.5-1.5 mm in 2 species, sometimes minutely glandular ), lobes 5, erect to spreading, deltate, triangular, or lanceolate; style-branch appendages narrowly triangular. Cypselae sometimes dimorphic , obconic, compressed or not, of ray florets often 3-angled, 4-12-ribbed, faces glabrous or densely strigillose ; pappi 0 or in 3-4 series, outer of 3-40 (sometimes obscure ) linear to linear-lanceolate or triangular scales (0.2-1 mm), inner of 30-45 off-white, stramineous , or tan to rusty brown, barbellate , apically clavate or attenuate bristles (3-11 mm). x = 9.

Species 28: North America, Mexico.

The generic limits of Heterotheca used here are those of J. C. Semple et al. (1980), who included all goldenasters with stiff, gradually tapering, multicellular hairs with bone-shaped cells with knobby faces, regardless of whether or not they had dimorphic cypselae. Traditionally, only dimorphic species had been included. L. H. Shinners (1951e) found that some individuals of the H. subaxillaris complex sensu G. L. Nesom (1990e) are not consistently dimorphic. He thus proposed merging the genus Chrysopsis, including Pityopsis, into Heterotheca. V. L. Harms (1965) reported cytologic evidence supporting this merger and followed Shinners in subsequent papers (e.g. , Harms 1970). Semple (1977) and Semple et al. (1980) presented evidence that Chrysopsis and Pityopsis differ sufficiently to be treated as separate genera based on habit, hair, leaf, cypsela, and cytologic traits . Nesom (2000) recognized Heterotheca as delimited here, following Semple et al. (1980) and Semple (1996). Semple and J. L. A. Hood (2005) showed that the assumed 2-seriate pappus was usually 3- and sometimes 4-seriate, the longest inner series usually weakly clavate apically.The genus is divided into three sections based on ray floret presence or absence, monomorphic or dimorphic cypselae, and, to a lesser extent, leaf traits (J. C. Semple 1996). Heterotheca sect. Heterotheca has dimorphic cypselae: the ray cypselae are usually glabrous and lack pappi. B . L. Wagenknecht (1960) revised section Heterotheca; G. L. Nesom (1990e) proposed an alternative treatment and combined several annual species . The latter is followed here with slight modification: three species are recognized (two in the flora , H. grandiflora and H. subaxillaris). The monospecific sect. Ammodia (Nuttall) V. L. Harms has discoid heads. Semple et al. (1988) revised sect. Ammodia and presented a multivariate analysis of the single species, H. oregona. The large sect. Phyllotheca (Nuttall) V. L. Harms has monomorphic cypselae in radiate heads (with the exception of one Mexican species). Semple (1996) revised sect. Phyllotheca (the C. villosa complex in the broad sense) and summarized data on the goldenaster genera. Species of sect. Phyllotheca are often difficult to distinguish due to a combination of environmentally induced plasticity, overlap in ranges of characters, and subtlety of diagnostic traits; most species include a wide range of indument types. Most taxa in this section have been included in Chrysopsis villosa (Pursh) Nuttall at one time or another by various authors . As treated by Semple (1996), the section consists of five species complexes: the sessiliflora complex native to California [H. sessiliflora, H. monarchensis, and Mexican H. thiniicola (Rzedowski & E. Ezcurra) B. L. Turner]; the mexicana complex [four Mexican species: H. brandegeei (B. L. Robinson & Greenman) Semple, H. gypsophila B. L. Turner, H. mexicana V. L. Harms ex B. L. Turner, and H. mucronata V. L. Harms & B. L. Turner]; the fulcrata complex of the southern Rocky Mountains (H. fulcrata, H. marginata, H. pumila, H. rutteri, and H. viscida) ; the Great Plains stenophylla complex (H. canescens, H. stenophylla) ; and the transcontinental villosa complex (H. barbata, H. camporum, H. jonesii, H. shevockii, H. villosa, and H. zionensis).The common name "false goldenaster" appears to have been arbitrarily coined recently and subsequently used on the plants .usda.gov web site, as are many of the common names listed for species. Historically, the common names "camphorweed" or "telegraph weed" were applied to the taxa with dimorphic cypselae, while "goldenaster" or "golden aster" was applied to the taxa with monomorphic cypselae (i.e. , those that had been included in Chrysopsis in the broad sense). The common name "goldenaster" is preferred and was used in Semple (1996).[1]

Physical Description

Species Heterotheca monarchensis

Perennials , 9-17.5 cm; taprooted. Stems 1-25+, ascending-erect, moderately to densely hispid . Leaves: proximal cauline petiolate , blades oblanceolate to obovate , 11-17(-25) × 2-3.7(-5) mm, bases cuneate, margins ± undulate , entire, strigoso-ciliate (proximal cilia long, spreading , numerous ), apices acute, faces moderately to densely hispido-strigose, sparsely stipitate-glandular ; distal narrowly oblanceolate, little reduced distally. Heads 1-2(-5), borne singly or in corymbiform arrays, branches ascending . Peduncles 2-5(-10) mm, densely hispid, sparsely stipitate-glandular; bracts leaflike, sometimes surpassing involucres, those subtending heads narrower than leaves. Involucres cylindro-turbinate (campanulate upon drying), 6-7.5(-8.5) mm. Phyllaries in 3-4 series, unequal (outer lengths 1 / 4 - 1 / 2 inner), margins scarious , faces moderately strigose , sparsely stipitate-glandular. Ray florets (8-) 12-16(-19) ; laminae 10-14 × 1-2 mm. Disc florets 30-45; corollas ± ampliate , 5-6 mm, tubes sparsely pilose distally, lobes 0.45-0.7 mm, sparsely pilose (hairs 0.2-0.6 mm). Cypselae monomorphic , obconic, somewhat compressed , 2-3 mm, ribs 9-11, shallow, faces moderately strigose; pappi off-white, outer of linear scales 0.25-0.5 mm, inner of 25-40 bristles 5-6.5 mm, longest weakly clavate . 2n = 18. [source]

Heterotheca monarchensis can be superficially similar to densely hairy specimens of H. sessiliflora var. bolanderioides and to individuals of subsp. sessiliflora that are silvery white, but those usually have ovate-lanceolate distal cauline leaves, while H. monarchensis has oblanceolate ones. All three can have heads partially surrounded by distal leaves and long, subtending, leaflike bracts. Their ranges do not overlap, however. Specimens of H. monarchensis can be confused with H. villosa varieties; the latter lack the long, thin corolla hairs. The species has a small number of known populations and is therefore of conservation concern. [source]

Habit: Forb/herb

Flowers: Bloom Period: May, June, July, August, September, October.

Habitat

Cracks, ledges, and flats on limestone, coarse sandy flats at base of cliffs , in single-leaf pine and yucca scrub communities; of conservation concern; 1000-1900 m [2].

Biology

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Reproduction

Duration: Perennial

Taxonomy

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Domain: Eukaryota () - Whittaker & Margulis,1978 - eukaryotes
- Kingdom: Plantae () - Haeckel, 1866 - Plants
  - Subkingdom: Viridaeplantae () - Cavalier-Smith, 1981
    - Phylum: Tracheophyta () - Sinnott, 1935 ex Cavalier-Smith, 1998 - Vascular Plants
      - Subphylum: Euphyllophytina ()
        Class: Spermatopsida () - Brongniart, 1843
        Subclass: Asteridae () - Takhtajan, 1967
        Superorder: Campanulanae () - Takhtajan Ex Reveal, 1992
        Order: Asterales () - Lindley, 1833
        Family: Compositae () - Giseke, 1792, nom. cons., nom. alt.
        Subfamily: Asteroideae ()
        Tribe: Astereae ()
        Subtribe: Chrysopsidinae ()
        Genus: Heterotheca () - Cassini, 1817 - Goldenaster, camphorweed, telegraph weed [Greek heteros, different, and thece, container, alluding to dimorphic cypselae]
        Specific epithet: monarchensis - D. A. York, Shevock & Semple in J. C. Semple, Rev. Heterotheca Phyllotheca. 52, fig. 20. 1996.
        Botanical name: - Heterotheca monarchensis D. A. York, Shevock & Semple in J. C. Semple, Rev. Heterotheca Phyllotheca. 52, fig. 20. 1996.

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 15-Mar-2000

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Heterotheca

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 73 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus:

More Info

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Notes

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Contributors

Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 10, 2012.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed February 28, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from provider.
"Heterotheca monarchensis". in Flora of North America Vol. 20 Page 231, 232, 238, 241. Published by Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
USDA, NRCS. 2005. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 28, 2008:

Berkeley Natural History Museums: University and Jepson Herbaria DiGIR provider

Identifiers

Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2676354
Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: ITS-565226
Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:995245-1
Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 565226
Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: PDAST4V0U0
U.S.D.A. Plant Symbol: HEMO14
Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 39505

Footnotes

John C. Semple "Heterotheca". in Flora of North America Vol. 20 Page 10, 13, 14, 211, 214, 222, 230, 231. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
"Heterotheca monarchensis". in Flora of North America Vol. 20 Page 231, 232, 238, 241. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]

Heterotheca monarchensis

Overview

Interesting Facts

Common Names

Description

Family Compositae

Genus Heterotheca

Physical Description

Species Heterotheca monarchensis

Habitat

Biology

Reproduction

Taxonomy

Notes

Similar Species

Members of the genus Heterotheca

More Info

Further Reading

Notes

Contributors

Data Sources

Identifiers

Footnotes