Microseris laciniata subsp. laciniata

From Puget Prairie Plants
  • Scientific Name: Microseris laciniata subsp. laciniata
  • Family:  Asteraceae
  • Common Names: cut-leaved microseris,
  • Synonyms/misapplications: Microseris procera
  • Codon: MICLAC

Photo by Rod Gilbert, also featured on Main Page

Taxonomy

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.

[1]

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.[2][3]

Bloom Period

May-July[4]

Distribution

Southern Puget Trough southward, on both sides of Cascades to California.[2]

Habitat

Clay, loam, and rocky soils, grasslands, moist meadows, dried slopes, woodlands.[2]

Uses

Documentation of Pomo use of roots for food.[5]

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 MILA lat.png

Longitudinal Cross Section: elliptical MILA long.png

Photo Gallery

References

  1. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved from https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=38110
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 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.
  3. WTU Herbarium, Burke Museum, & University of Washington. Retrieved from https://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Microseris%20laciniata
  4. Bowcutt, F., & Hamman, Sarah. (2016). Vascular plants of the South Sound prairies (First ed.). Olympia, Washington: The Evergreen State College Press.
  5. Native American Ethnobotany Database. Retrieved from http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Microseris+laciniata