Stephanomeria diegensis

Imperiled  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Stephanomeria
Species:
S. diegensis
Binomial name
Stephanomeria diegensis
Gottlieb

Stephanomeria diegensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name San Diego wirelettuce.[2] It is native to the coastal hills and ranges of southern California and Baja California, where it grows in many types of open habitat. It evolved as a hybrid of Stephanomeria exigua and S. virgata.[3] Furthermore, it is thought to be the result of homoploid hybrid speciation, which is uncommon.[4] The plant is frequently misidentified as one of its parents, especially if older taxonomic keys are used.[5] This is an erect annual herb easily exceeding two meters in height. Its slender stem has many spreading branches. The basal leaves are linear to lance-shaped and up to 10 centimeters long. The leaves wither early and are absent for most of the year, giving the plant a twiglike appearance. Leaves on the upper stem are small and reduced. The inflorescences are usually clusters of flower heads located at intervals on the stiff branches. Each head has a cylindrical base lined with phyllaries. These are often glandular. The head contains several ray florets, each with an elongated tube and a white or pink-tinged ligule measuring around a centimeter long. The fruit is a grooved achene tipped with a spreading cluster of long, plumelike pappus bristles.

References

  1. ↑ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0".
  2. ↑ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Stephanomeria diegensis". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  3. ↑ Gallez, G. P. and L. D. Gottlieb. (1982). Genetic evidence for the hybrid origin of the diploid plant Stephanomeria diegensis. Evolution 36:6 1158-67.
  4. ↑ Sherman, N. A. & J. M. Burke. (2009). Population genetic analysis reveals a homoploid hybrid origin of Stephanomeria diegensis (Asteraceae). Mol Ecol 18:19 4049-60.
  5. ↑ Chester, T. S. diegensis: An analysis


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