Urospermum dalechampii

Urospermum dalechampii, common name: Smooth Golden Fleece, is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the genus Urospermum of the family Asteraceae.

Urospermum dalechampii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Urospermum
Species:
U. dalechampii
Binomial name
Urospermum dalechampii
(L.) Scop.
Synonyms
  • Arnopogon dalechampii, (L.) Scop.

Description

Urospermum dalechampii reaches on average 25–40 centimetres (9.8–15.7 in) of height, with a minimum height of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) and a maximum height of 50 centimetres (20 in). This plant is quite hairy, with a single or branched stem. Basal leaves are usually arranged in a rosette of toothed leaves, while cauline leaves are just a few and smaller, more or less undivided and amplexicaul. The flowers are hermaphrodite. The flower heads are yellow sulfur, about five centimeter wide. Involucral bracts vary from seven to eight. Blooms are abundant throughout the Spring. The flowering period extends from March through August. The long, beaked fruit is an achene, and has a feathery, slightly reddish pappus

Flower of Urospermum dalechampii
Flower of Urospermum dalechampii
Leaves of Urospermum dalechampii

Distribution

This plant occurs in Western and Central Mediterranean from Spain to Dalmatia and North Africa.

Habitat

These plants can be found on roadsides, dry grasslands or wastelands at 0–1,200 metres (0–3,937 ft) above sea level. They are commonly grown in drained soil and sunny places throughout the year.

References
  • Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia - Edagricole – 1982. vol. III


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.