Madia elegans
| Madia elegans | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Madia |
| Species: | M. elegans |
| Binomial name | |
| Madia elegans D.Don ex Lindl. | |
Madia elegans is an annual herbaceous plant species in the daisy family. It is generally known as the common madia, but there are several subspecies known by various common names.[1]
Range
The Madia elegans plant is native to western North America from south-central Washington (state) to northern Baja California.[2][1][3][4] It may be found in dry open forest, disturbed areas and grasslands from low to high elevations.[2]
Description
Madia elegans is covered with short, stiff hairs. Glands are borne on stalks, especially near the flowers.[1] The showy flower varies in appearance across subspecies and even within subspecies. Typically, it is a bright yellow daisy-like bloom with numerous thin ray flowers and several central disk flowers. It may be solid lemon yellow or have a center of a different color, from white to maroon. Several strongly scented, uncrowded, flower heads grow at the end of a slender green stem. The ray flowers curl up during the daytime, opening in the late afternoon and staying open all night until mid-morning. It flowers from April through early November.[2] Its fruits are achenes which were historically used as food by Native Americans, including the Pomo and Miwok, who baked them or ground them into flour.
The foliage exudes a fragrant oil, hence the common name of tarweed.
Subspecies
- M. e. densifolia - showy tarweed
- M. e. elegans - common madia
- M. e. vernalis - spring madia
- M. e. wheeleri - Wheeler's tarweed
Image gallery
References
- 1 2 3 Giblin, David (Editor) (2015). "Madia elegans". WTU Herbarium Image Collection. Burke Museum, University of Washington. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
- 1 2 3 Sullivan, Steven. K. (2015). "Madia elegans". Wildflower Search. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
- ↑ "Madia elegans". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture; Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2015. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
- ↑ Hogan, C. Michael (curator). "Madia elegans". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2015-01-18.
External links
Media related to Madia elegans at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Madia elegans at Wikispecies- Jepson Manual Treatment: Madia elegans
- U. of Michigan Ethnobotany: Madia elegans
- Madia elegans — CalPhotos gallery