Spanish false fleabane

Pulicaria hispanica (Boissier) Boissier

Annuals (biennials, or short-lived perennials), (5–)20–120 cm. Leaf blades oblong to narrowly oblanceolate, 1–3 cm × 2–7 mm, bases clasping, margins entire, ± revolute. Phyllaries lance-linear to linear, 3–5 mm, pilosulous. Ray florets (10–)20–30+; corolla laminae 1.5–2+ mm. Disc florets (9–)40–100+; corollas 2–3 mm. Cypselae 0.8–1 mm, ± hirsutulous; pappi: outer cups 0.1–0.2(–0.4) mm, inner 12–20+ bristles 2–3 mm. 2. = 18 (Spain).

Flowering Jul–Oct. Roadways, dry streambeds, seasonal wetlands; 30–600 m; introduced; Calif.; Europe (Portugal, Spain).

Pulicaria paludosa was first recognized as a naturalized weed in southern California in the early 1960s (P. H. Raven 1963b); it had been collected earlier by P. A. Munz (in 1946).

SELECTED REFERENCE

Raven, P. H. 1963b. Pulicaria hispanica (Compositae: Inuleae), a weed new to California. Aliso 5: 251–253.