Microseris laciniata

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Campanulids
Ordo: Asterales

Familia: Asteraceae
Subfamilia: Cichorioideae
Tribus: Cichorieae
Subtribus: Microseridinae
Genus: Microseris
Species: Microseris laciniata
Subspecies: M. l. subsp. detlingii – M. l. subsp. laciniata – M. l. subsp. leptosepala – M. l. subsp. siskiyouensis
Name

Microseris laciniata Sch.Bip., 1866
References

Schultz, C.H. "Bipontinus", 1866. Jahresbericht der Pollichia, eines Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins der bayerischen Pfalz 22-24:309.

Links

Hassler, M. 2019. Microseris laciniata. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2019. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: 2019 Mar. 31. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Microseris laciniata. Published online. Accessed: Mar. 31 2019.
The Plant List 2013. Microseris laciniata in The Plant List Version 1.1. Published online. Accessed: 2019 Mar. 31.
Tropicos.org 2019. Microseris laciniata. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 31 Mar. 2019.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Microseris laciniata in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Vernacular names
English: Cutleaf or cut-leaved silverpuffs

Microseris laciniata is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name cutleaf silverpuffs. It is native to the western United States from Washington to northern California and Nevada, where it grows in forest and grassland habitat.
Description

It is a perennial herb growing up to a meter tall with a branching stem. The plentiful leaves are 10 to 50 centimeters long and variable in shape, with smooth, toothed, or lobed edges. The inflorescence is borne on a tall, erect or curving peduncle. The flower head may be 3 centimeters long when in bud and wide when in bloom, bearing up to 100 or more long yellow ray florets.

The fruit is an achene with a gray or brown body a few millimeters long. At the tip of the body is a large pappus made up of 5 to over 20 long, hairy scales, each of which may exceed one centimeter in length.

There are four Microseris laciniata subspecies.
Uses
The root, though bitter, was used for food by Native Americans of Mendocino. The milky sap was left out in the sun and used as a gum.