Eriophyllum mohavense

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Eriophyllum mohavense
Eriophyllum mohavense (Mojave woolly sunflower) (6739724025).jpg
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
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 , , , 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]

Morphology[]

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] 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] 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] 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. ^ Jump up to: a b Calflora taxon report, University of California, Eriophyllum mohavense (I.M. Johnston) Jepson, Barstow woolly sunflower, Mojave woolly sunflower
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Rare Plant Diversity in the California Deserts: Priorities for Research and Conservation, and , Fremontia, Journal of the California Native Plant Society, Vol. 42 No. 1 , January 2014, p11
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k Mojave Desert Wildflowers, Pam MacKay, 2nd Ed, 2014, p 199
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Flora of North America, Eriophyllum mohavense (I. M. Johnston) Jepson, 1925. Mohave or Barstow woolly sunflower

External links[]

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