Dieteria asteroides

Torrey

in W. H. Emory, Not. Milit. Reconn., 141. 1848.

Synonyms: Machaeranthera asteroides (Torrey) Greene
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 20. Treatment on page 396.

Biennials or short-lived perennials. Stems, branches, and peduncles usually hairy, puberulent, or canescent, often sparsely stipitate-glandular (glabrous or densely stipitate-glandular in var. glandulosa). Leaf blades lanceolate to oblanceolate, mid 20–100 × (2–)6–20 mm, margins entire to irregularly serrate, faces puberulent or canescent, often sparsely short-stipitate-glandular (densely, stiffly long-stipitate-glandular in var. glandulosa); distal bases cordate to auriculate, clasping. Involucres broadly turbinate to hemispheric. Phyllaries in 5–12 series, spreading to reflexed, apices acute to long-acuminate, 1–6 mm, herbaceous, faces puberulent or canescent throughout (on both indurate bases and foliaceous apices), sometimes sparsely stipitate-glandular (moderately to densely stipitate-glandular in var. glandulosa). Receptacles 3.5–7 mm diam. Ray florets pistillate, fertile; laminae white to purple, 10–20 × 0.8–1.5 mm. Disc corollas 5–8 mm. Cypselae glabrous or moderately appressed-hairy.

Distribution

V20-901-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Calif., N.Mex., Nev., Utah, Mexico.

Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Stems glabrous or stipitate-glandular; leaves stiffly stipitate-glandular Dieteria asteroides var. glandulosa
1 Stems hairy, puberulent, or canescent, sometimes sparsely stipitate-glandular; leaves puberulent or canescent, sometimes sparsely stipitate-glandular > 2
2 Mid leaf blades 6–20 mm wide, margins usually serrate or serrulate; involucres hemispheric; phyllary apices long-acuminate, 3–6 mm Dieteria asteroides var. asteroides
2 Mid leaf blades 2–6 mm wide, margins entire or slightly serrulate; involucres usually broadly turbinate, rarely hemispheric; phyllary apices acute to acuminate, 1–3 mm Dieteria asteroides var. lagunensis