Carlquistia is a rare North American genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae containing the single species Carlquistia muirii. Formerly named Raillardiopsis muirii, the plant was reexamined in the 1990s and moved to a new genus of its own, separate from similar and closely related genera, such as Madia.[2] Common names for the species include Muir's tarplant,[3] Muir's raillardiopsis,[4] and Muir's raillardella.[5]
| Carlquistia | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Subfamily: | Asteroideae |
| Tribe: | Madieae |
| Subtribe: | Madiinae |
| Genus: | Carlquistia B.G.Baldw. |
| Species: | C. muirii
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| Binomial name | |
| Carlquistia muirii (A.Gray) B.G.Baldw.
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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This plant is related to the silversword alliance of Hawaiian plants.[2][6]
The genus was named for the American botanist Sherwin Carlquist (1930–2021).[2] The specific epithet "muirii" honors Scottish-American naturalist, John Muir (1838–1914).[7]
Description
editCarlquistia muirii is a rhizomatous perennial herb forming clumps or mats of stems with hairy green pointed leaves up to about 4 centimeters long. Leaves are arranged oppositely on the lower stem, and alternately higher up. The inflorescence is usually made up of a solitary glandular flower head on an erect stalk. The head contains many yellow disc florets but no ray florets. The fruit is a very narrow achene which may exceed one centimeter in length including its pappus of plumelike bristles.[2]
Distribution
editCarlquistia muirii is endemic to California. It has a discontinuous distribution, occurring in the southern Sierra Nevada (Fresno, Tulare, and Kern Counties) and on the other western side of the San Joaquin Valley around the Ventana Double Cone in the Santa Lucia Mountains of Monterey County.[2][8]
References
edit- ^ The Plant List, Carlquistia muirii (A.Gray) B.G.Baldwin
- ^ a b c d e Flora of North America: Carlquistia
- ^ Carlquistia muirii. The Jepson eFlora 2013
- ^ Carlquistia muirii Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
- ^ Muir's raillardella (Carlquistia muirii). US Fish & Wildlife Service Species Profile.
- ^ Carlquistia and the Silversword Alliance Archived June 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Gray, Asa. 1876. Geological Survey of California, Botany 1: 618
- ^ Calflora taxon report, University of California, Carlquistia muirii (Gray) B.G. Baldwin Muir's tarplant
External links
edit- Carlquistia muirii. United States Department of Agriculture plants profile
- Carlquistia muirii. CalPhotos photo gallery, University of California.