Kingdom Plantae Genus Hulsea Higher classification Hulsea | Order Asterales Scientific name Hulsea vestita Rank Species | |
Similar Hulsea, Daisy family, Galium angustifolium, Pedicularis semibarbata, Heuchera hirsutissima | ||
Hulsea vestita is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name pumice alpinegold.
It is native to eastern and southern California, where various subspecies grow in separate mountain ranges from the High Sierra to the Transverse Ranges and Peninsular Ranges, and Madrean Sky Islands in the Mojave Desert. One subspecies (Hulsea vestita ssp. inyoensis) also occurs in western Nevada.
The plant can generally be found on the talus of mountain slopes, often in soils of volcanic origin.
Description
Hulsea vestita is a perennial herb growing a basal patch of thick leaves and stems up to a meter (40 inches) tall, but generally much shorter. The woolly, spoon-shaped leaves are gray-green and may have ruffled edges.
The thick flower heads have glandular, hairy green phyllaries. The center of the daisylike head contains many long golden disc florets and a fringe of golden to reddish ray florets up to 2 centimeters (0.8 inches) long.
Subspecies of Hulsea vestita include: