Encelia virginensis

Encelia virginensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Encelia
Species:
E. virginensis
Binomial name
Encelia virginensis
Synonyms[1]
  • Encelia virginensis var. actoni A.Nels., syn of var. actonii
  • Encelia actonii Elmer, syn of var. actonii
  • Encelia actoni Elmer, syn of var. actonii

Encelia virginensis is a North American species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae known by the common name Virgin River brittlebush. This shrub is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, particularly the Mojave Desert and the Sonoran Desert. It has been found in Baja California, southern California, Nevada, Arizona, southwestern Utah, and southwestern New Mexico.[2]

Encelia virginensis is a bushy, sprawling shrub reaching heights between 100 and 150 cm (40-60 inches). It has many branches, with the younger parts hairy and the older stems developing a thickened bark. The gray-green, fuzzy to hairy foliage may be sparse, appearing pale because of the presence of many small hairs on the surface. Atop many erect, hairy stems are solitary daisy-like flower heads with 11 to 21 ray florets which are generally yellow, and a center of yellow disc florets. The fruit is an achene 5 to 8 millimeters long and usually lacking a pappus.[3][4]

Varieties
  1. ^ The Plant List Encelia actoni Elmer
  2. ^ a b Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map, Encelia virginensis
  3. ^ Flora of North America, Encelia virginensis A. Nelson
  4. ^ Nelson, Aven 1904. Botanical Gazette 37(4): 272–273
  5. ^ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map, Encelia actoni
  6. ^ Calflora taxon report, University of California, Encelia actoni Elmer, Acton brittlebush
  7. ^ Flora of North America, Encelia actoni Elmer
  8. ^ Calflora taxon report, University of California, Encelia virginensis Nelson, Virgin River brittlebush