Machaeranthera tanacetifolia

Machaeranthera tanacetifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names tansyleaf tansyaster and Tahoka daisy.

Machaeranthera tanacetifolia

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Machaeranthera
Species:
M. tanacetifolia
Binomial name
Machaeranthera tanacetifolia
Synonyms

Machaeranthera coronopifolia
Machaeranthera parthenium

Description

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M. tanacetifolia is an annual or biennial herb growing one or more branching stems up to about 10–40 centimetres (4–15+12 inches) in height.[1] The multilobed leaves are up to 5–12.5 cm (2–5 in) long.[1] Between May and September,[1] an inflorescence bears one or more flower heads lined with spreading or curling, pointed phyllaries. The head has a center of many yellow disc florets and a fringe of many lavender to purple ray florets each 1 to 2 cm (13 to 23 in) long. The fruit is a flat achene about 1 cm long including the pappus.

It is similar to M. parviflora, the flower heads of which are smaller.[1]

Distribution and habitat

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It is native to Alberta, the southwestern and central United States, and northern Mexico. It grows in several types of habitat, including sandy open plains and deserts.[1]

Uses

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The Zuni people use an infusion of the flowers taken with other flowers for unspecified illnesses.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Spellenberg, Richard (2001) [1979]. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region (rev ed.). Knopf. pp. 386–387. ISBN 978-0-375-40233-3.
  2. ^ Camazine, Scott and Robert A. Bye 1980 A Study Of The Medical Ethnobotany Of The Zuni Indians of New Mexico. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2:365-388 (p. 375)
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