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Taxonomy

Notes:

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

Physical Description

Genus Micropus:

Annuals, 1-50 cm. Stems 1, ± erect, or 2-5[-10], ascending to erect [prostrate]. Leaves cauline; mostly alternate [opposite]; blades narrowly oblanceolate to elliptic [spatulate]. Heads usually in glomerules of 2-5 in racemiform to paniculiform or distally ± dichasiform [axillary] arrays, sometimes borne singly. Involucres inconspicuous. Phyllaries 4-6, ± equal (unlike paleae, scarious, hyaline). Receptacles depressed-spheric or obovoid (heights 0.5-1.8 times diams.), glabrous. Pistillate paleae falling, erect to incurved; bodies with 5+ nerves (nerves ± parallel, obscure), obovoid, saccate most of lengths (trigonously [evenly] compressed, galeate, abaxially rounded [corniculate-crested], each enclosing a floret) ; wings ± erect (and lateral) or inflexed (and subapical). Staminate paleae 0 or 1-3, falling, erect in fruit (not enlarged), shorter than pistillate paleae; bodies linear-lanceolate to oblanceolate. Pistillate florets 4-12. Functionally staminate florets 2-5; corolla lobes 4-5, ± equal. Bisexual florets 0. Cypselae brown, monomorphic: ± trigonously [evenly] compressed, ± obovoid, curved, gibbous abaxially, faces glabrous, smooth, shiny, corolla scars ± lateral; pappi: pistillate 0, staminate 0 or of 1-5 bristles (hidden in heads). x = 14.

Species 5: w United States, nw Mexico, s Europe, sw Asia, n Africa.

Micropus species are found mostly in dry, open habitats of Mediterranean climates. In the flora, they are known only from west-draining portions of the Californian Floristic Province and the Willamette Valley in Oregon.

The two North American species constitute Micropus sect. Rhyncholepis Nuttall. Recent European workers (e.g., J. Holub 1998) have included sect. Rhyncholepis in Bombycilaena, leaving M. supinus Linnaeus in a monotypic genus. Based on phylogenetic data (J. D. Morefield 1992), that approach would include in Bombycilaena species ancestral to, and derived from ancestors of, Micropus. I maintain Micropus in its traditional sense here. Micropus and Psilocarphus appear to be monophyletic sister genera derived from near or within Stylocline. A malformed specimen from Monterey County, California, appears to be a sterile hybrid between M. californicus and a species of Psilocarphus.^[1]

Habit: Forb/herb

Distribution

Range and Population

North America

Reproduction

Duration: Annual

Similar Species

Members of the genus Micropus:

There are approximately 42 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus: M. achimodzi · M. amphibola (Mount Diablo Cottonseed) · M. amphibolus (Mt. Diablo Cottonweed) · M. andicola · M. angustifolius · M. apistus · M. apus (Animals) · M. bombicinus · M. bombycinus · M. caffer · M. californicus (Q Tips) · M. californicus var. angustifolius · M. californicus var. californicus · M. californicus var. californicus Fisch. & C.A.Mey. (Q Tips) · M. californicus var. subvestitus · M. californicus var. subvestitus Gray (Q Tips) · M. dasycarpa (Desert Cottonweed) · M. discolor · M. dubius · M. erecta · M. erectus · M. exiguus · M. gallileensis · M. globiferus · M. grayanus · M. koenigi · M. longifolius · M. melanocephalus · M. melba · M. montivagus · M. muelleri · M. multicaulis · M. nehrkornis · M. oregonus · M. pacificus · M. parvus · M. pygmaeus · M. somalicus · M. sp · M. supinus · M. typicus · M. unipinnas

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Notes

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.) 1989-2005. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. [http://sn2000.taxonomy.nl/Taxonomicon/]. Access date: Nov 23, 2005
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed February 27, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 4 providers.
• 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 27, 2008:

• Australian National Herbarium (CANB)
• Berkeley Natural History Museums: University and Jepson Herbaria DiGIR provider
• Oregon State University: Vascular Plant Collection
• Utah State University: USU-UTC Specimen Database

Identifiers:

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 38097
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 277597
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:232564-1
• Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: PDAST6D010
• U.S.D.A. Plant Symbol: MICAS
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 50198

Footnotes:

1. James D. Morefield "Micropus". in Flora of North America Vol. 19, 20 and 21 Page 26, 28, 385, 386,
   388, 450, 454, 455,. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.