Anisocoma

Anisocoma acaulis (scale bud) is a wildflower found in the Mojave, Colorado Deserts, and California's Owens Valley above 2,000 feet (610 m) (states of Arizona, Nevada, California, Baja California, and Sonora), up to about 7000 ft.[1][2]

Scale bud
Anisocoma acaulis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Tribe:
Cichorieae
Subtribe:
Microseridinae
Genus:
Anisocoma

Species:
A. acaulis
Binomial name
Anisocoma acaulis

It is the only known member of genus Anisocoma.[3][4]

The plant grows a flat mat of jagged lobed leaves that lie on the ground. It sends up stalks up to 20 centimeters tall topped with flowers which bloom from April to June. The flowers may be yellow or white with yellow centers. The frilly ray florets are rectangular with flat or slightly toothed tips. This flower is found growing in colonies in sandy places and washes, and bleeds milky sap if cut. The common name "scale bud" is a reference to the scaly appearance of the closed flower bud.[5]

Flowerhead closeup, at ~5500ft in Eastern Sierra Nevada CA

References
  1. Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distributioni map
  2. CONABIO. 2009. Catálogo taxonómico de especies de México. 1. In Capital Nat. México. CONABIO, México D.F..
  3. Torrey, John & Asa Gray. 1845. Boston Journal of Natural History 5(1): 111 description in Latin, commentary in English
  4. Torrey, John & Asa Gray. 1845. Boston Journal of Natural History 5(1): plate XIII, figures 7–11 line drawings as illustrations
  5. Flora of North America Anisocoma acaulis Torrey & A. Gray
  • Mojave Desert Wildflowers, Jon Mark Stewart, 1998, pg. 107
  • Wildflowers of the Eastern Sierra and adjoining Mojave Desert and Great Basin. Laird R. Blackwell, 2002, pg.59 (ISBN 1551052814)


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