Launaea thalassica
Launaea thalassica N.Kilian, Brochmann & Rustan
Launaea thalassica is a flowering plant species in the family Asteraceae, endemic to Cape Verde. It is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN. The species was first described in 1987 by N. Kilian, Brochmann, and Rustan. The name thalassica is derived from the Greek word for 'of the sea'.
Description
Launaea thalassica is a perennial herb or subshrub with a strong taproot, reaching 25-60 cm in height. It forms a woody caudex that branches near the base, with each branch supporting a terminal leaf rosette and an upright, leafless flowering stem. Rosette leaves are 3-16 x 1-3 cm, narrowly spathulate, with sinuate-dentate margins and a greyish green lower surface. The flowering stem bears scalelike bracts. The synflorescence includes clustered or single capitula at the nodes or on short branches. Capitula have 6-11 flowers and are supported by wiry peduncles. Involucral bracts are imbricate, with scarious margins, and become star-shaped at fruit dispersal.
Distribution
Cape Verde · Global
