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Schkuhria multiflora - manyflower false threadleaf

Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Picradeniopsis multiflora, Bahia neomexicana, Cephalobembix neomexicana, S. multiflora var. multiflora , S. neomexicana
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
3 to 5 inches, rarely 25?
Riparian
No
Flowers are less than 1/16 inch high and lack rays; not particularly showy; somewhat hairy; wedge-shaped leaf-like structures around base of flower; yellow disc flowers; when in fruit, dark colored achenes topped with lighter colored scales.
Low-growing, delicate annual; leaves small, some simple and thread-like, others pinnately divided into narrow to thread-like lobes; yellow disc flowers <1/2 inch high, no ray flowers; phyllaries (bracts) somewhat hairy, wedge-shaped; achenes dark.

Habitat

Found on roadsides, on sandy slopes, and along washes, often in grasslands.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
5000
High elevation
7000

Flower Characteristics

Flower heads yellowish, in sparsely flowered clusters; stalks 1/4 to 1 inch long; 7 to 10 hairy bracts in 2 equal series, oval, green to purple; hairy and gland-dotted; disc flowers 15 to 30 per flower head; flowers yellowish; petals 1/16 inch long.
Flower color
Yellowish, green, purple
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
August
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Stems erect or along ground; leaves opposite along stems; upper leaves can be alternate; blades to 1/8 inch long; narrow, can be lobed; 3 to 7 lobes, lobes narrow to thread-like; soft hairs on leaf surfaces; dotted with glands.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf attachment
Alternate & Opposite
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Covered with stiff, short hairs to long hairs on angles and at base, 4-angled; 1/8 inch long; topped with a tuft of hair with 8 white to tawny or purplish scales; 1/16 inch long.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Blackish to brownish-yellow