Eryngium vaseyi
Encyclopedia
Eryngium vaseyi is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family
known by the common name coyotethistle. It is endemic to California
, where it is known from vernal pool
s and similar wet habitat in the Central Valley and certain areas of the Central Coast Ranges and southern California coast. This is a decumbent to upright perennial
herb
with spreading branches up to half a meter long. The lance-shaped to oblong leaves may be up to 24 centimeters long. The edges are deeply cut into narrow, sharp-pointed lobes. The inflorescence
is an array of somewhat rounded flower heads surrounded by several narrow, pointed bract
s with spiny edges. The head blooms in whitish petals.
Apiaceae
The Apiaceae , commonly known as carrot or parsley family, is a group of mostly aromatic plants with hollow stems. The family is large, with more than 3,700 species spread across 434 genera, it is the sixteenth largest family of flowering plants...
known by the common name coyotethistle. It is endemic to California
California
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...
, where it is known from vernal pool
Vernal pool
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water. They are usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species...
s and similar wet habitat in the Central Valley and certain areas of the Central Coast Ranges and southern California coast. This is a decumbent to upright perennial
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
herb
Herbaceous plant
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
with spreading branches up to half a meter long. The lance-shaped to oblong leaves may be up to 24 centimeters long. The edges are deeply cut into narrow, sharp-pointed lobes. 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 an array of somewhat rounded flower heads surrounded by several narrow, pointed bract
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...
s with spiny edges. The head blooms in whitish petals.