Microseris laciniata subsp. laciniata

Microseris laciniata
	Photo by Rod Gilbert, also featured on Main Page
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae;
Subkingdom:	Viridiplantae;
Phylum:	Tracheophyta;
Subphylum:	Spermatophytina;
Class:	Magnoliopsida;
Subclass:	Asteranae;
Order:	Asterales;
Family:	Asteraceae;
Genus:	Microseris D. Don;
Species:	Microseris laciniata (Hook.) Sch. Bip.;
Subspecies:	Microseris laciniata ssp. laciniata (Hook.) Sch. Bip.;
Synonyms
	Scorzonella laciniata (Hook.) Sch. Bip.; Scorzonella procera Greene; Scorzonella laciniata var. pratensis (Greene) Jeps.;

Latin Name: Microseris laciniata subsp. laciniata
Family: Asteraceae
Common Names: cut-leaved microseris,
Synonyms/misapplications: Microseris procera
Codon: MICLAC

Taxonomy

Description

Taprooted perennial, variable habit, 1.5-12 dm tall.

Leaves mostly basal, from entire to deeply pinnatifid.

Heads ligulate, solitary, long-pedunculate. Flowers yellow. Phyllaries unequal, 3-5 seriate. Pappus scales 5-10, white to yellowish.

Achene 5-6 mm, beakless.^[1]^[2]

Bloom Period

May-July^[3]

Distribution

Southern Puget Trough southward, on both sides of Cascades to California.^[1]

Habitat

Clay, loam, and rocky soils, grasslands, moist meadows, dried slopes, woodlands.^[1]

Uses

Documentation of Pomo use of roots for food.^[4]

Seed

Seed sample from: 2011

Average Measurement: 5.6 x 0.8 x 0.8

Measurement Range: L: 4.75 – 7, W: 0.5 – 0.9, D: 0.5 – 0.9

Features

Shape: Seed tubular with puckered hilum.

Additional Structures: Pappus attached at apex opposite hilum. Pappus fibers are attached in a circular pattern around end. Individual hairs are broad at point of attachment, narrowing to a point. Pappus fibers exceptionally broad, somewhat iridescent, and 1/10 – 1/3 as long as seed body.

Color: Hilum white, seed body tan or light brown.

Surface: Seed body has 10 – 15 grooves running longitudinally from hilum to pappus. Hilum is glossy but seed body is smooth and matte

Latitudinal Cross Section: elliptical

Longitudinal Cross Section: elliptical

Photo Gallery

Photo by Rod Gilbert, 2006
Photo by Rod Gilbert, 2006
courtesy of CNLM, young growth

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Hitchcock, C. L., Cronquist, A., Giblin, D., & Legler, B. et al. (2018). Flora of the Pacific Northwest: an illustrated manual. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
↑ WTU Herbarium, Burke Museum, & University of Washington. Retrieved from https://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Microseris%20laciniata
↑ Bowcutt, F., & Hamman, Sarah. (2016). Vascular plants of the South Sound prairies (First ed.). Olympia, Washington: The Evergreen State College Press.
↑ Native American Ethnobotany Database. Retrieved from http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Microseris+laciniata

[:0-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Hitchcock, C. L., Cronquist, A., Giblin, D., & Legler, B. et al. (2018). Flora of the Pacific Northwest: an illustrated manual. Seattle: University of Washington Press.

[2] WTU Herbarium, Burke Museum, & University of Washington. Retrieved from https://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Microseris%20laciniata

[3] Bowcutt, F., & Hamman, Sarah. (2016). Vascular plants of the South Sound prairies (First ed.). Olympia, Washington: The Evergreen State College Press.

[4] Native American Ethnobotany Database. Retrieved from http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Microseris+laciniata

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