Hymenopappus filifolius var. cinereus Family: Asteraceae (A Utah Flora – Compositae) – Sunflower Family Perennial herbs; stems 2” to 3.3' (5 to 100 cm) tall Leaves: alternate or mainly basal (and still alternate); simple; mainly pinnatifid; basal leaves 1.2” to 8” (3 to 20 cm) long Flowers: discoid; perfect; 10 to 59 yellow or white flowers or more, 0.08” to 0.28” (2 to 7 mm) long; flower head appears to be a single flower, but is composed of several flowers (a composite) Pollinators: other genera in this family are pollinated by insects Fruits: achene – 1 seeded with hard shell Blooms in Arches National Park: April, May, June Habitat in Arches National Park: desert shrub and pinyon-juniper communities Location seen: Visitor Center area, park road mile 0 to 2.5, Broken Arch Other: The genus name, “Hymenopappus”, is from the Greek “hymen” meaning “membrane” and “pappus” meaning “down” which refers to the membranous scales on the crown of the seed. The species name, “filifolius”, means “threadlike leaves” and refers to the fine divisions of the leaf blade. The variety name, “cinerus”, means “ashy-gray” referring to the foliage. This family is the most advanced and complex of the dicots. The family is rich in oils and resins and is found in every part of the world, but is infrequent in the tropical rainforest. Aquatic or semi-aquatic species are also uncommon. |
Last updated: December 12, 2022