Machaeranthera tanacetifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names tansyleaf tansyaster and Tahoka daisy.
| Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Machaeranthera |
| Species: | M. tanacetifolia
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| Binomial name | |
| Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | |
| Synonyms | |
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Machaeranthera coronopifolia | |
Description
editM. tanacetifolia is an annual or biennial herb growing one or more branching stems up to about 10–40 centimetres (4–15+1⁄2 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 (1⁄3 to 2⁄3 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]
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Plant before flowering -
Close-up of foliage -
Underside of flower -
Flower gone to seed
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Distribution and habitat
editIt 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
editThe Zuni people use an infusion of the flowers taken with other flowers for unspecified illnesses.[2]
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ 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)