Malacothrix saxatilis var. commutata

(Torrey & A. Gray) Ferris

Aliso 4: 100. 1958.

Endemic
Basionym: Malacothrix commutata Torrey & A. Gray Fl. N. Amer. 2: 487. 1843
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 19. Treatment on page 319. Mentioned on page 318.

Plants rhizomatous or with woody caudices. Herbage glabrous or ± arachnose. Stems 1 (plants rhizomatous) or 2–3+ (plants with woody caudices), erect, freely branched, herbaceous, relatively leafy distally. Cauline leaves: proximal not pinnately lobed (lanceolate to lance-linear, margins entire or denticulate, apices acute to acuminate); distal lanceolate or elliptic to linear, margins entire or denticulate, apices acute to acuminate. Arrays of heads relatively crowded. Cypselae 2–2.5 mm. 2n = 18.


Phenology: Flowering Mar–Dec.
Habitat: Crumbling shale along roadcuts, in canyons, chaparral, foothill woodlands
Elevation: 200–1600 m

Discussion

Variety commutata grows on the eastern face of the Transverse Range (Ventura County), in canyons in the Coast Ranges to Monterey County, and in the Breckenridge Mountains (Kern County).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.