''Eriophyllum congdonii'', known by the common name Congdon's woolly sunflower,
[ is a rare ]California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae
Asteraceae () is a large family (biology), family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the Order (biology), order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchi ...
.
Distribution
''Eriophyllum congdonii'' is native to the mountains of central Mariposa County, California
Mariposa County () is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 17,131. The county seat is Mariposa. It is located in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, north of Fresn ...
, where it grows along the valley of the Merced River
The Merced River (), in the central part of the U.S. state of California, is a -long tributary of the San Joaquin River flowing from the Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nevada into the San Joaquin Valley. It is most well known for its swift and st ...
as it flows through Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park ( ) is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States in California. It is bordered on the southeast by Sierra National Forest and on the northwest by Stanislaus National Forest. The p ...
. One additional population has been reported on the east flank of Telescope Peak
Telescope Peak (Timbisha: Chiombe) is the highest point within Death Valley National Park, in the U.S. state of California. It is also the highest point of the Panamint Range, and lies in Inyo County. From atop this desert mountain one can see ...
in Inyo County.[Calflora taxon report, University of California, ''Eriophyllum congdonii'' Brandegee Congdon's eriophyllum, Congdon's woolly sunflower ]
/ref>
Description
''Eriophyllum congdonii'' is an annual herb growing mostly erect with branching stems up to 30 centimeters (1 foot) long. The woolly, whitish leaves are 1 to 4 centimeters (0.4-1.6 inches) long and may have a few shallow lobes.[Brandegee, Townshend Stith 1899. Botanical Gazette 27(6): 449–450]
as ''Eriophyllum Congdoni''
The inflorescence
In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a mai ...
consists of one flower head containing many gland
A gland is a Cell (biology), cell or an Organ (biology), organ in an animal's body that produces and secretes different substances that the organism needs, either into the bloodstream or into a body cavity or outer surface. A gland may also funct ...
ular yellow disc floret
Asteraceae () is a large family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchidaceae, and which is the larger fa ...
s surrounded by 8 to 10 yellow ray florets
Asteraceae () is a large family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchidaceae, and which is the larger fa ...
each 3 to 5 millimeters (0.12-0.20 inches) long.[
The fruit is a rough-haired ]achene
An achene (; ), also sometimes called akene and occasionally achenium or achenocarp, is a type of simple fruit, simple dry fruits, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate (formed from one carpel) and Dehi ...
with a tiny, scaly pappus.[Flora of North America, ''Eriophyllum congdonii'' Brandegee 1899]
/ref>
See also
*Joseph Whipple Congdon
Joseph Whipple Congdon (April 13, 1834 – April 5, 1910) was a lawyer by trade who contributed significantly to early botanical exploration in California, particularly in the Yosemite region, where he resided in Mariposa from 1882 until 1905. C ...
References
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment - ''Eriophyllum congdonii''United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile; Eriophyllum congdonii''Eriophyllum congdonii'' - Calphotos Photo gallery, University of California
congdonii
Endemic flora of California
Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States)
Yosemite National Park
Natural history of Mariposa County, California
Plants described in 1899
{{Asteroideae-stub