''Microseris sylvatica'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names sylvan scorzonella and woodland silverpuffs. It is endemic to California, where it has a scattered distribution throughout the central California Coast Ranges and inland mountain ranges, including the

Sierra Nevada The Sierra Nevada () is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin. The vast majority of the range lies in the state of California, although the Carson Range spur lies primarily ...

of the state. Its habitat includes grassland and openings in wooded areas.

Description

This is a perennial herb growing up to 75 centimeters tall. The leaves are up to 35 centimeters in length and wavy, toothed, or lobed along the edges. The inflorescence is borne on an erect

peduncle Peduncle may refer to: *Peduncle (botany), a stalk supporting an inflorescence, which is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed *Peduncle (anatomy), a stem, through which a mass of tissue is attached to a body **Peduncle (art ...

, the flower head containing up to 70 yellow ray florets. The fruit is an

achene An achene (; ), also sometimes called akene and occasionally achenium or achenocarp, is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate (formed from one carpel) and indehiscent (they do not ope ...

with a pale body up to a centimeter long. At the tip of the body is a large pappus made up of several long, barbed, bristly scales each up to a centimeter in length themselves.

External links

Jepson Manual Treatment — ''Microseris sylvatica''USDA Plants Profile: ''Microseris sylvatica''Flora of North AmericaCalifornia Native Plant Society Rare Plant Profile — ''Microseris sylvatica''''Microseris sylvatica'' — U.C. Photo gallery
sylvatica Endemic flora of California Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Natural history of the California Coast Ranges Natural history of the Central Valley (California) Natural history of the Transverse Ranges Flora without expected TNC conservation status {{Cichorieae-stub