Pleurocoronis pluriseta
Encyclopedia
Pleurocoronis pluriseta is a species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common name bush arrowleaf. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in desert scrub and similar habitat. This is a clumpy or bushy subshrub
reaching up to about half a meter in maximum height with many slender branches. The distinctive leaves are several centimeters in length and are mostly petiole
; there is generally a toothed diamond- or arrowhead-shaped blade no more than one centimeter long at the very tip. The inflorescence
is made up of one or two flower heads
, sometimes more. Each flower head is somewhat cylindrical or bullet-shaped, measuring up to about a centimeter long. The head is discoid, containing only disc florets and no ray florets. It is lined with a series of many phyllaries
coated thinly in glandular hairs and often streaked with purple-red coloration. The tips of the outer phyllaries curve outward. The fruit is a hairy, ribbed achene
a few millimeters long with a pappus
of bristles and scales on its tip.
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 bush arrowleaf. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in desert scrub and similar habitat. This is a clumpy or bushy subshrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
reaching up to about half a meter in maximum height with many slender branches. The distinctive leaves are several centimeters in length and are mostly petiole
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...
; there is generally a toothed diamond- or arrowhead-shaped blade no more than one centimeter long at the very tip. 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 made up of one or two flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
, sometimes more. Each flower head is somewhat cylindrical or bullet-shaped, measuring up to about a centimeter long. The head is discoid, containing only disc florets and no ray florets. It is lined with a series of many 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 thinly in glandular hairs and often streaked with purple-red coloration. The tips of the outer phyllaries curve outward. The fruit is a hairy, ribbed achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
a few millimeters long 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 bristles and scales on its tip.