rod wirelettuce
Stephanomeria virgata Benth.
Stephanomeria virgata, known as rod wirelettuce, is an annual herb of the Asteraceae family. It is native to Western North America, including California, Oregon, Nevada, and northern Mexico, typically found in dry, open habitats below 2100 meters. The plant is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental.
Description
Stephanomeria virgata is an annual plant reaching 50-200 cm in height. It has a single, virgate stem that is usually glabrous, with rare tomentose variants. Basal leaves are oblanceolate to spatulate, 3-10 cm long, with pinnately lobed margins. Cauline leaves are reduced and bract-like. The plant produces single or clustered heads on 3-10 mm peduncles with bracteate structures. Involucres measure 6-8 mm, and each head contains 5-9 florets. Cypselae are light tan to dark brown, 2.2-3.6 mm, with smooth to tuberculate surfaces and pappi of 23-28 plumose bristles. Chromosome number is 2n = 16.
Other common names
virgate wirelettucerod wirelettuce
Distribution
Baja California · California · Mexico Northwest · Nevada · Oregon
Synonyms
Ptiloria virgataPtiloria virgata var. virgataPtiloria canescens
