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Palafoxia arida

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Palafoxia arida
Palafoxia arida var. arida (autonym)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Palafoxia
Species:
P. arida
Binomial name
Palafoxia arida

Palafoxia arida is a species of flowering plant in the aster family, known by the common names desert palafox and Spanish needle.

Distribution

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It is native to the Mojave Desert and Sonoran Desert ecoregions of California, the Southwestern United States, and northwestern Mexico.

Description

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Palafoxia arida is an annual herb producing an erect, branching, glandular stem. The rough-haired leaves are linear or lance-shaped and may exceed 10 centimeters long.

The inflorescence is an array of up to 40 flower heads. The cylindrical heads are about 2 to 3 centimeters long, lined with long, pointed phyllaries, and bearing up to 40 pink or white tubular disc florets.

The fruit is an achene over a centimeter long including the pappus.

Varieties

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There are two varieties that are no longer accepted:

  • Palafoxia arida var. arida — desert needle, desert palafox[3]
  • Palafoxia arida var. gigantea — giant Spanish needle; larger, reaching 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in height[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Palafoxia arida B.L.Turner & M.I.Morris". The Plant List; Version 1. (published on the internet). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden. 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  2. ^  Palafoxia arida was published in Madrono; Journal of the California Botanical Society. Berkeley, California 23: 79. 1975. "Plant Name Details for Palafoxia arida". IPNI. Retrieved January 17, 2012. San Bernardino County (California, Southwestern U.S.A., Northern America)
  3. ^ Calflora: Palafoxia arida var. arida
  4. ^ Calflora: Palafoxia arida var. gigantea
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