Biology:Psathyrotes ramosissima

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Short description: Species of plant

Psathyrotes ramosissima
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Psathyrotes
Species:
P. ramosissima
Binomial name
Psathyrotes ramosissima
(Torr.) A.Gray
Synonyms

Tetradymia ramosissima

Psathyrotes ramosissima is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names velvet turtleback[1] and turtleback. It is native to the southwestern United States.

Description

It is a low, neatly mounded plant producing spreading stems which are hairless to densely woolly in texture. It grows to 12.5 centimetres (5 in) tall and has a turpentine odour.[2]

Leaves are borne on long petioles. The leaf blade is roundish, veined, and up to 2 cm (34 in) long.[2] It has a toothed edge and a velvety surface coated in woolly fibres and shiny hairs; it is brownish to grayish or pale green in color.

The knobby inflorescence is 6 millimetres (14 in) wide[2] and lined with woolly gray-green phyllaries with dull points that curve outward. It contains several hairy yellow disc florets.[2] The fruit is an achene tipped with a large pappus of over 100 long, fine bristles.

Distribution and habitat

It is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, where it grows in desert scrub.[2]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q3409453 entry