Eriophyllum mohavense

Eriophyllum mohavense
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Heliantheae
Genus: Eriophyllum
Species: E. mohavense
Binomial name
Eriophyllum mohavense
(I.M.Johnst.) Jeps. 1925
Synonyms[1]

Eriophyllum mohavense, also known as the Mojave woolly sunflower or the Barstow woolly sunflower[2] is a rare[3] species of small annual flowering plant in the aster family, found only (endemic) in the Mojave Desert of California.[4]

Range and Habitat

Eriophyllum mohavense grows in open loamy, gravelly, or clay soils of the Mojave Desert.[4] It grows between 1,500 and 3,000 feet (450-900 meters) elevation.[4] It can be found in creosote bush scrub and saltbush scrub plant communities. It has been found in Kramer Hills, Boron, around Harper Dry Lake, Opal Mountain, Cuddleback Lake, and Kramer Junction. Some populations have been found within the boundaries of Edwards Air Force Base and Joshua Tree National Park.[3][4][2][5]

Growth pattern and Visual Form

This is a tiny annual herb forming woolly tufts only 1 to 3 centimeters (0.4-1.2 inches) tall.[4] It is covered with long wooly hairs.[4][5]

Leaves

There are a few lobed, pointed leaves at the base of the tuft, no more than a centimeter (0.4 inches) long each. The leaves are spoon-shaped, sometimes having 3 pointed teeth near the wider tip.[4][5]

Flowers

The plant produces cylindrical flower heads just a few millimeters wide, containing usually 3-4 bright yellow disc flowers.[4] The phyllaries (green bracts surrounding the flower head) are concave.[4] The disc florets have ray-like lobes, but there are no true ray flowers.[5]

Fruit

The fruit is an achene about half a centimeter long including a short pappus.[5]


Additional information

This plant is illustrative of problems with conducting botanical inventories of annuals in deserts.[3] Seeds may lay in the ground for years, waiting for the right germination conditions.[3] Aboveground plants may be absent for years, creating the false impression that plants populations are no longer present.[3]

It is threatened in almost its entire range, by military activities, grazing, off-road vehicles, and energy development.[4] It meets the criteria for listing to be protected, but as of 2014 has not been given legal protection.[4]

References

  1. ↑ The Plant List, Eriophyllum mohavense (I.M.Johnst.) Jeps.
  2. 1 2 Calflora taxon report, University of California, Eriophyllum mohavense (I.M. Johnston) Jepson, Barstow woolly sunflower, Mojave woolly sunflower
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Rare Plant Diversity in the California Deserts: Priorities for Research and Conservation, Kara A. Moore and James M. Andre, Fremontia, Journal of the California Native Plant Society, Vol. 42 No. 1 , January 2014, p11
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Mojave Desert Wildflowers, Pam MacKay, 2nd Ed, 2014, p 199
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Flora of North America, Eriophyllum mohavense (I. M. Johnston) Jepson, 1925. Mohave or Barstow woolly sunflower

External links

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