Layia fremontii
Encyclopedia
Layia fremontii is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family
known by the common name Frémont's tidytips. Both its common name, and its specific epithet are derived from John C. Frémont
).
It is endemic to California
, where it grows in the northern Coast Ranges, the Central Valley
, and the Sierra Nevada foothills.
The flower head
has a base of phyllaries
with fuzzy margins and hairy, bumpy surfaces. Like many other species of tidytips
, the ray florets are bright yellow tipped neatly with white. The disc florets are yellow with purple anthers
. The fruit is a hairy achene
with a pappus
of many white scales.
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 Frémont's tidytips. Both its common name, and its specific epithet are derived from John C. Frémont
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
).
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 grows in the northern Coast Ranges, the Central Valley
California Central Valley
California's Central Valley is a large, flat valley that dominates the central portion of California. It is home to California's most productive agricultural efforts. The valley stretches approximately from northwest to southeast inland and parallel to the Pacific Ocean coast. Its northern half is...
, and the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Description
Layia fremontii is an annual herb growing a nonglandular erect stem to a maximum height approaching 40 centimeters. The linear or lance-shaped leaves are somewhat fleshy, with the lower ones multilobed and approaching 7 centimeters in maximum length.The flower head
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
has a base of 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...
with fuzzy margins and hairy, bumpy surfaces. Like many other species of tidytips
Layia
Layia is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family known generally as tidy tips. There are about fourteen species of tidytips, which are native to western North America. Several are California endemics. These are erect daisylike annual herbs with dark glandular stems...
, the ray florets are bright yellow tipped neatly with white. The disc florets are yellow with purple anthers
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
. 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...
with a 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 many white scales.