Eucephalus breweri
Encyclopedia
Eucephalus breweri is a species of aster
known by the common name Brewer's aster. It is native to California
where it grows in several of the local mountain ranges at subalpine
elevations. Its range may extend into Nevada
and Oregon
. This is a perennial herb growing from a woody caudex
to a maximum height anywhere between 10 centimeters and one meter. The stems are mainly erect and are coated in woolly fibers and resin glands. The abundant hairy, glandular leaves are lance-shaped to oval, pointed, and smooth or toothed along the edges. They are up to 5 centimeters long. The inflorescence
holds several discoid flower heads
which are packed with long yellow disc florets and lack ray florets. They are lined with hairy, glandular phyllaries
. The fruit is a hairy achene
.
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 Brewer's aster. It is native 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 grows in several of the local mountain ranges at subalpine
Subalpine
The subalpine zone is the biotic zone immediately below tree line around the world. Species that occur in this zone depend on the location of the zone on the Earth, for example, Snow Gum in Australia, or Subalpine Larch, Mountain Hemlock and Subalpine Fir in western North America.Trees in the...
elevations. Its range may extend into Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
and Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. This is a perennial herb growing from a woody caudex
Caudex
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...
to a maximum height anywhere between 10 centimeters and one meter. The stems are mainly erect and are coated in woolly fibers and resin glands. The abundant hairy, glandular leaves are lance-shaped to oval, pointed, and smooth or toothed along the edges. They are up to 5 centimeters long. 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...
holds several discoid flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
which are packed with long yellow disc florets and lack ray florets. They are lined with hairy, glandular 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...
. The fruit is a hairy achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
.