Enceliopsis covillei
Encyclopedia
Enceliopsis covillei is a rare species of flowering plant in the daisy family
known by the common name Panamint daisy.
It is endemic in Inyo County, California
, where it is known only from the rocky slopes of the western Panamint Range
sky island
in the Mojave Desert
near Death Valley
.
. The silvery woolly leaves are up to 10 centimeters long by 8 wide and are spade-shaped to oval to diamond-shaped with winged petioles
.
The inflorescence
is a large solitary flower head
on an erect or leaning peduncle
which may reach a meter tall. The flower head has a base made up of three layers of pointed phyllaries
coated in gray or silvery hairs. The head has a fringe of many yellow ray florets each up to 5 centimeters long.
The fruit is an achene
about a centimeter long with a small pappus
.
The plant is featured in the logo of the California Native Plant Society, an organization formed in 1965.
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...
known by the common name Panamint daisy.
It is endemic in Inyo County, California
Inyo County, California
-National protected areas:* Death Valley National Park * Inyo National Forest * Manzanar National Historic Site-Major highways:* U.S. Route 6* U.S. Route 395* State Route 127* State Route 136* State Route 168* State Route 178...
, where it is known only from the rocky slopes of the western Panamint Range
Panamint Range
The Panamint Range is a short rugged fault-block mountain range on the northern edge of the Mojave Desert, in Death Valley National Park, Inyo County, California, United States.-Geography:...
sky island
Sky island
Sky islands are mountains that are isolated by surrounding lowlands of a dramatically different environment, a situation which, in combination with the altitudinal zonation of ecosystems, has significant implications for natural habitats. Endemism, vertical migration, and relict populations are...
in the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
near Death Valley
Death Valley
Death Valley is a desert valley located in Eastern California. Situated within the Mojave Desert, it features the lowest, driest, and hottest locations in North America. Badwater, a basin located in Death Valley, is the specific location of the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet below...
.
Description
Enceliopsis covillei is a perennial herb with erect stems varying in height from 15 centimeters to over a meter, growing from a tough, woody caudexCaudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
. The silvery woolly leaves are up to 10 centimeters long by 8 wide and are spade-shaped to oval to diamond-shaped with winged petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
.
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 a large solitary 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 or leaning peduncle
Peduncle (botany)
In botany, a peduncle is a stem supporting an inflorescence, or after fecundation, an infructescence.The peduncle is a stem, usually green and without leaves, though sometimes colored or supporting small leaves...
which may reach a meter tall. The flower head has a base made up of three layers of pointed phyllaries
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
coated in gray or silvery hairs. The head has a fringe of many yellow ray florets each up to 5 centimeters long.
The fruit is an achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
about a centimeter long with a small 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...
.
The plant is featured in the logo of the California Native Plant Society, an organization formed in 1965.