SUNFLOWER FAMILY. 415 



Pappus-bristles subplumose, the paleae about 3 lines long; leaves laciniate-pinnatifid 



1. S. sylvatica. 

 Pappus-bristles barbellate or naked. 



Leaves subentire to laciniate-parted; paleae about 1 line long 2. S. paludosa. 



Leaves linear-lanceolate, entire or saliently lobed: paleae Yz line long.... 3. 5". bolanderi. 



Leaves entire or toothed; paleae 1 to 1 Yz lines long 4. S. procera. 



1. S. sylvatica Benth. Stem commonly simple and 1-headed, l 1 /^ to 2 ft. 

 high; leaves broadly to narrowly lanceolate, laciniate-pinnatifid, the radical 5 

 to 8 in. long; heads 1 in. high or somewhat less; involucral bracts in 3 series, 

 the outer ovate or ovate-lanceolate, the inner linear-oblong, all acuminate; 

 achenes 4 lines long; pappus 7 lines long; paleae about 3 lines long, tapering 

 into the subplumose awn which is somewhat longer. — (Microseris sylvatica 

 Benth.) 



Wooded hills bordering the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys from Yuba 

 and Colusa cos. southward to the eastern base of the Mt. Diablo range. 

 Last of Apr.-May. 



2. S. paludosa Greene. Stems several from the base, slender, 2 ft. high 

 or more; leaves 1 ft. long, subentire to laciniate-parted into long linear lobes; 

 heads 50 to 75-flowered; involucral bracts with a lanceolate base, tapering into 

 a long slender acumination; achene 2 lines long; pappus brownish, the paleae 

 little more than 1, the barbellulate awn 4 or 5 lines long. — (Microseris sylvatica 

 Benth. var. stillmanii Gray.) 



Low moist ground: Marin Co. to Solano Co. 



3. S. bolanderi (Gray) Greene. Slender plants, 1 to 1V 2 ft. high; stems 

 several, decumbent, leafy at base only; leaves linear-lanceolate, entire or with 

 a few salient linear lobes, the radical 9 to 12 in. long, including the margined 

 petiole; bracts attenuate from a broadish base or some outer ovate, rather 

 regularly imbricated; pappus 5 lines long, the ovate % line long, abruptly 

 tipped with the long slender awn. — (Microseris bolanderi Gray.) 



Swampy places in the Xorth Coast Ranges: Marin Co. northward to Mendo- 

 cino and Humboldt cos. 



4. S. procera (Gray) Greene. Stem robust, 2 to 3% ft. high, leafy- 

 stemmed, the branches long and erect ; leaves entire or denticulate, the radical 

 and lower cauline % to l 1 /^ ft. long and 1 to 2 in. wide, the upper cauline 

 smaller, all acuminate and tipped with a short rigid point; involucre 1 in. 

 high and as broad or broader; outer bracts broadly ovate and abruptly short- 

 pointed, the inner ovate to lanceolate and attenuate; achenes 2% lines long; 

 pappus 5 to 6 lines long; paleae 1 to l 1 /-* lines long; awn minutely scabrous. — 

 (S. maxima Bioletti. Microseris procera Gray.) 



Xorth Coast Eanges: Sonoma Valley; Knights Valley; Cloverdale; Ukiah. 

 June-July. 



11. MALACOTHRIX DC. 



Ours annual caulescent or acaulescent herbs, commonly with a radical cluster 

 of leaves, the stems either leafy or almost naked. Heads peduncled, com- 

 monly nodding in the bud. Flowers yellow, white, or pinkish. Receptacle 

 bristly or naked. Achenes short, glabrous, terete, 10 to 15-ribbed, or 4 or 5 of 

 the ribs stronger than the others, truncate at apex and with an entire or 

 denticulate border. Pappus-bristles soft, scabrous, more or h>ss united at base 

 and falling away together, or with 1 to 8 stronger ones which are more per- 

 sistent and smoother. (Greek malakos, soft, and thrix, hair, in reference to 

 the long wool on M. calif ornica, type of the genus.) 



