Malacothrix junakii

Malacothrix junakii is a rare species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names Anacapa Island desert-dandelion, Junak's desertdandelion, and Junak's malacothrix. It is endemic to Anacapa Island, one of the Channel Islands of California, where it is known from just two occurrences.[1] It occurs in the coastal scrub of the island. It was described to science as a new species in 1997.[2]

Malacothrix junakii

Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Tribe:
Cichorieae
Genus:
Malacothrix
Species:
M. junakii
Binomial name
Malacothrix junakii
W.S.Davis

This is an annual herb with a branching, leafy stem up to 30 centimeters tall. The leaves are lance-shaped with toothed or lobed blades, the upper leaves with fewer, narrower lobes. The inflorescence contains several flower heads in one or more open clusters. The head is lined with hairless red-tinged green phyllaries. It contains yellow ray florets each roughly a centimeter long.

This rare species faces threats from introduced plant species on the island.[1]

References
  1. California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Profile
  2. Davis, W. S. (1997). The systematics of annual species of Malacothrix (Asteraceae: Lactuceae) endemic to the California Islands. Madroño 44 223–244.


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