Filago pyramidata L.

Seedling

Cotyledons small, oval-rounded, 1.5-2.5 x 1-1.5 mm, sessile, glabrous. First leaves sessile, lanceolate-spatulate, subopposite, covered with characteristic whitish silky hairs on both sides. The hypocotyl axis is glabrous and very short, 5 mm long. The seedling is greyish green.

Adult plant

Filago pyramidata is an annual, erect plant. Stem often branched at the base and dichotomous at the inflorescence, up to 40 cm high, grey, tomentose. Leaves simple, alternate, entire, sessile, lanceolate to spatulate, grey, tomentose on both sides, apiculate at the apex. Capitula small, 4.5-6 x 2-3.5 mm, pyramidal with 5 angles, yellowish, gathered in axillary or terminal glomerules of 5-15, and surrounded by 4-6 bracteal leaves. Involucral bracts arranged in 5 series, the outer and middle ones keeled, with a woolly underside and apex ending in a yellow ridge 1 to 1.5 mm long, the inner ones glabrous. Female outer florets filiform, without pappus. 5 to 6 bisexual central florets. Achenes ellipsoid, 0.5-0.8 mm, brownish. The achenes of the central florets have a white, deciduous pappus composed of 12-16 bristles, 3 mm long. 

Origin

Filago pyramidata is native to the Mediterranean region.

Worldwide distribution

A species introduces in the USA (British Columbia and California) and Great Britain.

Algeria: A common species throughout the country.