Malacothrix incana

Malacothrix incana is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name dunedelion. It is endemic to California, where it grows only in sand dunes on the beaches of the Channel Islands and isolated spots along the mainland coastline in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. The type specimen was collected in San Diego, but the plant no longer occurs there.[3]

Malacothrix incana

Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Malacothrix
Species:
M. incana
Binomial name
Malacothrix incana
Synonyms[2]
  • Malacomeris incanus Nutt.
  • Malacothrix incana var. succulenta (Elmer) J.K.Williams
  • Malacothrix succulenta Elmer

Description

This is a perennial herb forming a leafy mound up to about 70 centimeters in maximum height. It may be hairless to densely hairy. The leaves are smooth-edged or have dull lobes. Leaves at the base of the stem are similar to those distal. The inflorescence is an array of flower heads lined with hairless phyllaries. The ray florets are one or two centimeters long and yellow in color.[3]

Taxonomy

The type specimen was collected in San Diego, probably on the dunes of the Silver Strand on Coronado Island,[3] but the plant is no longer present in San Diego County.[4] The plant was first described as Malacomeris incanus by Thomas Nuttall in 1841, and later as the current name by John Torrey and Asa Gray in 1843.[3]

Distribution and habitat

This species is a coastal dune endemic, and is only found in the U.S. state of California. Some of the dune habitats it grows in have been damaged.[1] It is found on the mainland in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, and also on the Channel Islands of San Miguel, San Nicolas, Santa Cruz, and Santa Rosa. Where dunes transition into areas of normal soil, hybrids with other Malacothrix species may be found.[3]

References
  1. "Malacothrix incana". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  2. "Malacothrix incana". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  3. Davis, W.S. "Malacothrix incana". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 9 August 2022 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  4. Rebman, Jon P.; Simpson, Michael G. (2014). Checklist of the Vascular Plants of San Diego County (5th ed.). San Diego, California: San Diego Natural History Museum. p. 97. ISBN 0-918969-08-5.


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