Malacothrix saxatilis var. tenuifolia

(Nuttall) A. Gray

in A. Gray et al., Syn. Fl. N. Amer. 1(2): 423. 1884.

Endemic
Basionym: Leucoseris tenuifolia Nuttall Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n. s. 7: 440. 1841
Synonyms: Malacothrix saxatilis var. altissima (Greene) Ferris
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 19. Treatment on page 319. Mentioned on page 318.

Plants with woody caudices. Herbage glabrous or sparsely hairy (floccose). Stems 1–3+, erect, branched distally, herbaceous, relatively sparsely leafy distally. Cauline leaves: proximal usually 1-pinnately lobed (lobes lanceolate to linear or filiform, sometimes antrorse, apices acute); distal linear to filiform (or pinnately lobed, lobes linear to filiform), ultimate margins entire, apices acute. Arrays of heads relatively open. Cypselae 1.4–2 mm. 2n = 18.


Phenology: Flowering Mar–Dec.
Habitat: Canyons, coastal-sage scrub, chaparral
Elevation: 10–2000 m

Discussion

Variety tenuifolia occurs in the Transverse Ranges (Santa Monica, Santa Ynez, San Gabriel, and San Bernardino mountains), south to coastal areas in Orange and San Diego counties, and east to San Bernardino and Riverside counties, and on Santa Catalina Island with var. saxatilis. Single populations grow on San Clemente and San Nicolas islands on mounds of sand brought from the mainland.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.