Carlquistia
Encyclopedia
Carlquistia is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the aster family
containing the single species Carlquistia muirii. Formerly named Raillardiopsis muirii, the plant was reexamined in the 1990s and moved to a new genus of its own, separate from similar and closely related genera, such as Madia
. The new genus was named for the botanist Sherwin Carlquist
.
This plant is related to the Silversword alliance
of Hawaii
an plants.
perennial herb forming clumps or mats of stems with hairy green pointed leaves up to about 4 centimeters long. Leaves are arranged oppositely on the lower stem, and alternately higher up. The inflorescence
is usually made up of a solitary glandular flower head
on an erect stalk. The head contains many yellow disc florets and lacks any ray florets. The fruit is a very narrow achene
which may exceed one centimeter in length including its pappus
of plumelike bristles.
. It has a disjunct distribution
, occurring in the southern Sierra Nevada and on the other western side of the San Joaquin Valley
around the Ventana Double Cone
in the Santa Lucia Mountains
.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
containing the single species Carlquistia muirii. Formerly named Raillardiopsis muirii, the plant was reexamined in the 1990s and moved to a new genus of its own, separate from similar and closely related genera, such as Madia
Madia
-Species:*Madia anomala Greene - plumpseeded madia*Madia chilensis Reiche*Madia citrigracilis D.D.Keck - Shasta tarweed*Madia citriodora Greene - lemon-scented madia*Madia elegans D.Don ex Lindl. - common madia...
. The new genus was named for the botanist Sherwin Carlquist
Sherwin Carlquist
Sherwin Carlquist is an American botanist and photographer. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1952 and a Ph.D. in botany in 1956, also at Berkeley. Carlquist did a postdoctoral study at Harvard University from 1955 to 1956. After his postdoctoral...
.
This plant is related to the Silversword alliance
Silversword alliance
Silversword alliance refers to an adaptive radiation of over 50 species in the composite or sunflower family, Asteraceae. The group is endemic to Hawaii, and is derived from a single immigrant to the islands...
of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an plants.
Description
Carlquistia muirii is a rhizomatousRhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
perennial herb forming clumps or mats of stems with hairy green pointed leaves up to about 4 centimeters long. Leaves are arranged oppositely on the lower stem, and alternately higher up. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is usually made up of a solitary glandular flower head
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
on an erect stalk. The head contains many yellow disc florets and lacks any ray florets. The fruit is a very narrow achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
which may exceed one centimeter in length including its pappus
Pappus (flower structure)
The pappus is the modified calyx, the part of an individual disk, ray or ligule floret surrounding the base of the corolla, in flower heads of the plant family Asteraceae. The pappus may be composed of bristles , awns, scales, or may be absent. In some species, the pappus is too small to see...
of plumelike bristles.
Distribution
This species Carlquistia muirii is endemic to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It has a disjunct distribution
Disjunct distribution
In biology, a taxon with a disjunct distribution is one that has two or more groups that are related but widely separated from each other geographically...
, occurring in the southern Sierra Nevada and on the other western side of the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
around the Ventana Double Cone
Ventana Double Cone
The Ventana Double Cone is a prominent twin mountain top located in the northern part of the Ventana Wilderness of the Los Padres National Forest. It is a popular hiking destination.-Toponymy:...
in the Santa Lucia Mountains
Santa Lucia Mountains
The Santa Lucia Mountains or Santa Lucia Range is a mountain range in coastal California, running from Monterey southeast for 105 miles to San Luis Obispo. The highest summit is Junipero Serra Peak, in Monterey County...
.