Kingdom Plantae Genus Layia Higher classification Layia | Order Asterales Scientific name Layia carnosa Rank Species | |
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Similar Layia, Erysimum menziesii, Lessingia germanorum, Daisy family, Hesperolinon congestum | ||
Layia carnosa is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name beach tidytips, or beach layia. It is endemic to California, where it lives in beach habitat. It is known from several areas of mostly fragmented coastal habitat, and it is listed as an endangered species on the California state and federal levels.
Description
This is a petite annual herb producing a short, glandular stem along the ground or somewhat upright to a maximum length of about 18 centimeters. The fleshy green leaves are oval in shape, with the larger ones roughly lobed and up to 4 or 5 centimeters in length. The inflorescence is borne on a short peduncle. The flower head has a base of overlapping green phyllaries which form a cup to hold several small white ray florets. The center is filled with yellow disc florets with purple anthers.
The fruits are small achenes of two types. The ray florets yield hairy, curved fruits with no pappus, while the disc florets yield fruits with a long, hairlike pappus.
