Amsinckia menziesii

Amsinckia menziesii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: (unplaced)
Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Amsinckia
Species: A. menziesii
Binomial name
Amsinckia menziesii
(Lehm.) A. Nelson & J.F. Macbr.
Synonyms

Amsinckia micrantha Suksd.

Amsinckia menziesii is a species of plant in the Boraginaceae family, the borage or forget-me-not family.

Varieties

The plant has two varieties:

Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia - common fiddleneck, intermediate fiddleneck
Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii - Menzies' fiddleneck

Var. intermedia

A. menziesii var. intermedia, showing the "fiddleneck", which is a cincinnus inflorescence

Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia (common fiddleneck, or intermediate fiddleneck) is one of the common fiddlenecks of western North America, distributed from Alaska and Canada through the Western United States to Mexico. Like other members of the genus, it has a terminal flowering whorl somewhat shaped like the head of a violin or fiddle, hence the name fiddleneck. The flowers are yellow-orange, orange, or dark yellow.

In Australia, the species has become a common weed of cultivated areas in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.[1]

Its seeds are the favorite food of Lawrence's goldfinch during that Californian bird's nesting season of spring and early summer.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Wilson, Peter G. "Amsinckia intermedia Fisch. & C.A.Mey.". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  2. ↑ Davis, Jeff N. (June 2001). "A Closer Look: Lawrence's Goldfinch". Birding (American Birding Association) 33 (3): 212–221.

External links

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