Achyrachaena mollis

Classification System: APG IV

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

Familia: Asteraceae
Subfamilia: Asteroideae
Tribus: Madieae
Genus: Achyrachaena
Species: Achyrachaena mollis
Name

Achyrachaena mollis Schauer, 1838
Synonyms

Lepidostephanus madioides Bartl.

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Northern America
Regional: Southwestern USA
USA (California, Oregon)
Regional: Mexico
Mexico (Baja California Norte)

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References

Johannes Conrad Schauer, Delectus Seminum in Horto Botanico Vratislaviensi Collectorum - A. 1841 3. 1837 (Linnaea 12(Litt.):82.1838)
USDA Plants Database [1]

Links

International Plant Names Index. 2018. Achyrachaena mollis. Published online. Accessed: Feb. 21 2018.
The Plant List 2013. Achyrachaena mollis in The Plant List Version 1.1. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2018 Feb. 21.
Tropicos.org 2018. Achyrachaena mollis. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2018 Feb. 21.
Hassler, M. 2018. Achyrachaena mollis. 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. 2018. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2018 Feb. 21. Reference page.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Achyrachaena mollis in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Vernacular names
English: Blow wives

The only species in the monotypic genus Achyrachaena is the annual herb Achyrachaena mollis, which bears the common name blow-wives. The genus name is both singular and plural.

The plant is common in low-elevation hills, higher mountains, valleys, and grasslands across California from the coast to the Sierra Nevada, north into southern Oregon, and south into northern Baja California, Mexico.

Achyrachaena mollis has some invasive potential in introduced locations, but is not recorded as one of the more troublesome weeds.
Description
Achyrachaena mollis is a flower which grows to approximately one foot in height on a strong, straight stem. Atop the stem is a large, rounded bud which opens into a spherical cluster of flowers. The actual flowers are small and yellow and nearly invisible behind the showy fruits, which extend shiny bright white scales which look like long rectangular flower petals. These silky white scales catch the wind, which allows the single-seeded fruits to be dispersed.