Psilocarphus tenellus Nutt.Nutt.
slender woolly-heads (slender woollyheads)
Asteraceae (Aster family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Adolf Ceska     (Photo ID #5863)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Psilocarphus tenellus
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Annual herb from a short taproot; stems erect at first, later prostrate and matted, much-branched, woolly-hairy, 5-30 cm long.
Leaves:
Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves opposite, spoon-shaped or oblanceolate to oblong, thinly whitish woolly-hairy, 4-15 mm long, 1-5 mm wide.
Flowers:
Heads disciform, usually solitary in leaf axils or at tips of branches; involucres lacking; receptacular bracts, hooded and balloon-like, 1.3-2.5 mm long at maturity; female flowers mostly 25-46.
Fruits:
Achenes nerveless, swollen, broadly oblanceolate to narrowly rounded, tipped with a small style, 0.6-1.2 mm long; pappus lacking.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Habitat and Range

Moist vernal pathsides and roadsides in the lowland zone; rare in SW BC, known from S Vancouver Island and Saltspring Island; S to ID, OR and MX.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Psilocarphus tenellus var. tenellus Nutt.