410 ASTERACEAE. 



clasping at the base, and long-peduncled large heads of 

 purple or yellow flowers. Involucre cylindric, its bracts 

 in 1 series, acuminate, united at the base. Ligules trun- 

 cate, 5-toothed. Achenes linear, terete or 5-angled, 

 5-10-ribbed, with slender beaks or the outer beakless. 

 Pappus bristles in 1 series, plumose, connate at the base. 



1. T. porrifolius L. (Salsify.) Erect, somewhat branched, 

 5-8 dm. high, glabrous and somewhat succulent; peduncles thickened 

 and hollow for some distance below the head; bracts exceeding the 

 purple flowers; achenes often 4 mm. long, the outer ones with scale- 

 like tubercles, especially on the ribs; beak long, slender; pappus 

 tawny. 



A frequent escape from cultivation, especially in the coast valleys. 



77. MALACOTHRIX DC. 



Annual or perennial herbs with alternate or basal 

 mostly pinnatifid leaves and long-peduncled panicled or 

 solitary heads of yellow rarely white flowers. Involucre 

 campanulate, its principal bracts in 1-2 series, equal or 

 nearly so, with several series of short exterior ones. 

 Receptacle flat, naked or bristly. Rays truncate and 

 5-toothed at apex. Achenes oblong or linear, glabrous, 

 10-15-ribbed, truncate or margined and 4-5-toothed at 

 the summit. Pappus bristles in 2 series, the inner 

 naked or minutely serrulate, slender, coherent at the 

 base and deciduous in a ring, the outer few, more per- 

 sistent. 



Annuals, scapose or diffusely branched, 1-5 dm. 

 high. 



Heads large, solitary on the scapose peduncles. 1. M. calif ornica. 

 Heads small, numerous on the diffusely 



branched stems. 2. M. clevelandi. 



Perennial about 1 m. high. 3. M. saxatilis. 



1. M. californica DC. Annual, scapose, 3 dm. high or less; 

 leaves basal, tufted, laciniately 1-2-pinnatifid into narrow linear 

 lobes, when young woolly with long, loose, soft hairs; heads solitary 

 on naked scapes, large and showy, 5 cm. broad or less; involucre 

 broadly campanulate, about 2 cm, high; outer bracts slender- 

 subulate; flowers pale yellow; achenes narrow, faintly striate-costate; 

 outer pappus of 2 persistent bristles, the inner capillary, deciduous. 



Common on sandy soil along the coast and in the interior valleys. 

 March-May. 



2. M. clevelandi Gray. Annual, paniculately branched, 5 dm. 

 high or less; stems and branches rather naked; only some of the 



