Pulicaria paludosa Link     =Pulicaria hispanica    Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)   Mediterranean   Spanish Sunflower

                                             August Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Annual to perennial herb, to ca. 1 m. tall, branched, short-villous throughout; lvs. alternate, oblong to narrow-oblanceolate, clasping at base, 1-6 cm. long, entire; heads many, 7-10 mm. in diam.; phyllaries linear, attenuate, 3-4.8 mm. long, villous; rays yellow, the ligules 1.5-2 mm. long; disk fls. tubular, perfect, yellow; anthers caudate, stigmatic branches flattened, slightly broader upward; pappus 2-rowed, the outer row of short scales, free or joined into a cup, the inner of hairs; aks. cylindrical, 1 mm. long, brownish.  

Habitat:  Adventive along streams, etc., from Orange Co. and Riverside cos.  Below 200 m. June-Sept.

Name:  Latin, pulicarius, flea-like.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 221). Latin, Hispanicus, of Spain.  (Jaeger 119).

General:  Very common in the study area.   This plant is not listed in Munz, Calif. Flora or the old 1927 Jepson and according to one of the leaders of a Native Plant Society  on a walk through the upper bay in September 1983, it was not here 8-10 years ago.   Photographed on the Santa Ana Heights Flats and at 23rd Street.  (my comments).    An Old World genus of some size.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 221).  Uncommon.  (Hickman, Ed. 330).  The species is very aggressive and has taken over large areas of wet soil all around the upper bay.  (my comment).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 330; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 221; Roberts 13.

Photo Ref:  June 6 83 # 18,19,20.  Aug 1 84 # 2,4; Sept 95 # 4.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.  

First Found:  June 1983.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 191.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 5/15/05.

                         August Photo                                                                     August Photo