Agnorhiza reticulata

Agnorhiza reticulata (syn. Wyethia reticulata), known by the common name El Dorado County mule's ears, is a rare species of flowering plant found only in a small region of north-central California.[2]

Agnorhiza reticulata

Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Agnorhiza
Species:
A. reticulata
Binomial name
Agnorhiza reticulata
Synonyms[1]

Wyethia reticulata Greene

Agnorhiza reticulata grows in the California interior chaparral and woodlands habitats of the Sierra Nevada foothills.[3] It has been found in El Dorado, Sacramento, and Yuba Counties.[4][2]

The genetic diversity of the populations is probably low because they are often clonal, spreading via vegetative reproduction with rhizomes rather than sexual reproduction by seed.[3] Some populations are also threatened by development of their habitat.[3][5]

Description

Agnorhiza reticulata is a perennial herb producing a hairy, glandular, sticky-textured stem growing 40 to 70 centimeters tall, at times reaching 1 meter (3 ft.). The leaves have triangular or lance-shaped blades up to 15 centimeters long.[6]

The inflorescence is a usually solitary sunflowerlike flower head with up to 21 yellow ray florets measuring up to 2.5 centimeters long. At the center are yellow disc florets. The flowers are pollinated by native bees.[5][7]

The fruit is an achene a few millimeters long which usually lacks a pappus.

See also

References
  1. The Plant List, Agnorhiza reticulata (Greene) W.A.Weber
  2. Calflora taxon report, University of California @ Berkeley, Wyethia reticulata E. Greene El Dorado County mule ears, El Dorado mule ears, Eldorado wyethia
  3. The Nature Conservancy
  4. Biota of North America Program, 2014 county distribution map, Agnorhiza reticulata
  5. Ayres, D. R. and F. J. Ryan. (1999). Genetic diversity and structure of the narrow endemic Wyethia reticulata and its congener W. bolanderi (Asteraceae) using RAPD and allozyme techniques. American Journal of Botany 86 344-53.
  6. Flora of North America, Agnorhiza reticulata
  7. Jepson Manual Treatment of Agnorhiza reticulata
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