Microseris douglasii subsp. tenella

(A. Gray) K. L. Chambers

Contr. Dudley Herb. 4: 294. 1955.

Common names: Tender silverpuffs
Endemic
Basionym: Calaïs tenella A. Gray in War Department [U.S.], Pacif. Railr. Rep. 4(5): 114, plate 17, figs. 6–10. 1857
Synonyms: Calaïs aphantocarpha A. Gray Microseris aphantocarpha (A. Gray) Schultz-Bipontinus Microseris tenella (A. Gray) Schultz-Bipontinus Microseris tenella var. aphantocarpha (A. Gray) S. F. Blake
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 19. Treatment on page 344. Mentioned on page 343, 347.

Cypselae truncate-fusiform, 3–6.5 mm (tapered to basal callosities, widest beyond middles, filled by embryos), ribs constricted at apices; pappi usually of deltate or ovate, arcuate, usually plane or barely involute scales 0.5–1 mm, shorter than cypselae, sometimes nearly obsolete. 2n = 18.


Phenology: Flowering Mar-–Jun.
Habitat: Sandy or clay soils, flats and hillsides, sometimes on serpentine slopes, grasslands and open oak woodlands
Elevation: 0–500 m

Discussion

Subspecies tenella intergrades completely with subsp. douglasii in west-central California. It occurs near the immediate coast; morphologic variation and chloroplast DNA suggest a history of hybridization with M. bigelovii.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"fine" is not a number.

acute;acuminate +
scarious +
ovate +  and lanceolate +
paniculiform +  and corymbiform +
indeterminate +  and determinate +
Kenton L. Chambers +
(A. Gray) K. L. Chambers +
decurrent +
Calaïs tenella +
compound +  and simple +
linear;oblanceolate +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (25 cm250 mm <br />0.25 m <br />) +
tuberculate +, rugose +, muricate +  and smooth +
filiform +
Tender silverpuffs +
zygomorphic +, actinomorphic +  and (3-)5-merous +
white +  and yellow +
surpassing phyllaries +  and equaling +
purplish-spotted +, gray +  and brown or purplish +
truncate-fusiform +
0–500 m +
black-villous +  and scurfy-puberulent +
winged +  and beaked +
dispersed +
Sandy or clay soils, flats and hillsides, sometimes on serpentine slopes, grasslands and open oak woodlands +
indeterminate +
each +  and sessile +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
globose;fusiform +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (1.6 cm16 mm <br />0.016 m <br />) +
lobed +  and dentate +
scurfy-puberulent +  and glabrous +
2-carpellate +
white +  and yellow brown or blackish +
persistent +
curved-ascending +  and erect +
Flowering Mar-–Jun. +
connate +  and distinct +
5 +  and 40 +
Contr. Dudley Herb. +
flat;low-convex +
10 +  and 15 +
constricted +
linear +, orbiculate +, ovate +, oblong +, lanceolate +  and deltate +
silvery;yellowish brownish or blackish +
5 +  and 30 +
involute +, plane +, arcuate +, ovate +  and deltate +
0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br /> (0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br />) +
exalbuminous +
many-branched +  and simple +
scurfy +  and glabrous +
few +, 1 +  and 30 +
appendaged +  and truncate +
papillate +
Calaïs aphantocarpha +, Microseris aphantocarpha +, Microseris tenella +  and Microseris tenella var. aphantocarpha +
Microseris douglasii subsp. tenella +
Microseris douglasii +
subspecies +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br />) +
shrub +  and subshrub +