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Key to families | Table of families and genera



Perennial herb to shrub. Stem: generally ± white, glabrous or hairy. Leaf: all cauline, alternate, entire or toothed; midrib white. Inflorescence: heads radiate, 1, sessile or peduncled; involucre bell-shaped or hemispheric; phyllaries graduated in 3–6 series; receptacle convex, epaleate. Ray flower: generally 12–60; corolla white to blue or purple. Disk flower: 30–140; corolla yellow; style tips linear, acute. Fruit: linear to club-shaped, weakly compressed, 4-ribbed, with long, ± appressed hairs; pappus of 30–45, unequal, barbed bristles.
10 species: western North America. (Greek: woody root) [Nesom 2006 FNANM 20:406–409]
Unabridged references: [Watson 1977 Brittonia 29:199–216]

Key to Xylorhiza

1. Perennial herb or subshrub; stem generally branched only in proximal 1/2; peduncle 8–25 cm ..... X. tortifolia var. tortifolia

1' Shrub; stem generally branched throughout; peduncle 0–11 cm

2. Younger stems and peduncles short-glandular; phyllaries loosely appressed, outermost glandular, innermost < immediately preceding series ..... X. cognata

2' Younger stems and peduncles generally glabrous (rarely puberulent proximal to heads); phyllaries tightly appressed, ± glabrous; innermost >= immediately preceding series ..... X. orcuttii

