Kingdom Plantae Genus Monolopia Higher classification Daisy family | Order Asterales Scientific name Monolopia congdonii Rank Species | |
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Similar Monolopia, Caulanthus californicus, Daisy family | ||
Monolopia congdonii (formerly Lembertia congdonii) is a rare species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name San Joaquin woollythread. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the southern San Joaquin Valley and one area in nearby Santa Barbara County. It is a federally listed endangered species.
Description
This is a small annual herb with a trailing or somewhat upright stem coated thinly in woolly fibers. The leaves are up to about 4 centimeters long and have wavy edges. The inflorescences at the end of stem branches bear small hemispheric flower heads. Each head is wrapped in phyllaries with black glandular hairs and has a center of glandular yellow disc florets. There are also yellow ray florets but they are so small they are nearly invisible. Each is about half a millimeter long and has a minutely lobed tip.