Favoritos de alex_wentworth

Upright annual, 30 to 80 cm tall, with single, central stem
basal leaves not persistent
glandular, but not strongly/sticky, aroma pleasant
inflors in open, spreading panicles
subtending bracts overlap up to 1/2 of involucre
8 ray flowers
~10-12 disk flowers
disk flowers appear to be bisexual, not just staminate (but maybe we're misinterpreting what we're seeing)
pappus scales roughly equal to or slightly less than 1/2 corolla length

Presence of seemingly bisexual disk flowers makes keying problematic (JM2 couplet 12, 12'). If that is bypassed, plants best fit D. paniculata.

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50-100 scattered plants, mainly growing in a single, central area in park where ground is mostly flat and soil packed hard from use. Park is on small island of Eocene-age Whiskey Hill sandstone, but most of Crestview Ridge is Cretaceous-age Franciscan graywacke.

Growing with Madia elegans (full bloom), Madia sativa (finished), Deinandra corymbosa (mainly finished), Dittrichia suaveolens (just starting to bloom), Danthonia californica, various European annual grasses and non-native herbaceous plants.

Entire park was mowed and brush-cut earlier this season, perhaps around June before summer tarplants had bolted; Mowing of entire park started in c. 2019, and may now be yearly.

From 1942-44, park was part of a 177 acre military complex along ridge used by the Army Quartermaster Corps to train War Dogs. Housing developments started in 1950s.

https://militarymuseum.org/SanCarlos.html

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In the central Cross Country Course area, a few Deinandra corymbosa plants trying to grow through the weeds. Used to be a lot more, but huge areas got mowed for course use I guess. Still, the course has been used for a long time and there used to be large patches of Deinandra. So much Dittrichia, oh my.

@jhigbie Is this your Mystery Oak? On Sunset Trail. Yesterday I was there, and wondering what you were talking about (after hiking here decades), and there it is!!! Only micro acorns seen, couldn’t find any galls. Nestled among Leather Oaks with a couple small Coast Lives nearby. I’ve read that apparently one of the parents doesn’t need to be nearby. So maybe Q. durata durata with Valley Oak, which are close enough as the pollen flies. Fascinating! @sandy_b

On A. tomentosa. Under light microscope.

Similar galled 'flowers' here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181000725
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/177747870
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/173545939
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/173452063
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/173435146
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/165659504
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181000725

On A. montereyensis. Compare typical flowers in 2nd photo to red 'pseudoflowers' in 1st (and other photos).

Similar galled 'flowers' here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181000725
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/177747870
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/173545939
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/173452063
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/173435146
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/165659504