Lasthenia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Goldfields | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Lasthenia glabrata | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Subfamily: | Asteroideae |
| Tribe: | Madieae |
| Subtribe: | Baeriinae |
| Genus: | Lasthenia Cass. |
| Type species | |
| Lasthenia californica | |
| Species | |
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See text | |
Lasthenia, commonly known as goldfields, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is named after Lasthenia of Mantinea, a cross-dressing female pupil of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato.
The goldfield genus comprises annual (rarely perennial) herbs that are either glabrous or hairy. Stems are typically branched and erect, attaining a height of less than 60 cm (24 in). Their opposite leaves, up to 20 cm (8 in) in length, have entire margins and pinnate venation.
Inflorescences are characterized by solitary heads (sometimes in cymes), with phyllaries free or partly fused. The receptacle may present as naked and narrowly conic to hemispherical. The normally yellow ray florets may number 4 to 16, and the ligules are typically yellow as well. The numerous disk florets typically have yellow, 5-lobed corollae. Anther tips manifest as acuminate to triangular. Style tips may be triangular or round and are typically hair-tufted.
Fruits are less than 5 mm (0.2 in) across, cylindric to obovoid in shape, and black or gray in color. The pappus may present awns or scales, or infrequently neither. The genus is mostly cross-pollinated, with some insects serving as pollinators.[1]
