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Chaetopappa species [Asteraceae]

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Scientific Name Chaetopappa asteroides USDA PLANTS Symbol CHAS
Common Name Least Daisy ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 37006
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower) SEINet
Reference
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Description Habitat: Sandy soils, open areas.
Plant: Low-growing annual, less than 12 inches tall with single to a few thin, wirey, weak, branched stems.
Leaves: Hairy, oblanceolate to spatulate-orbicular basal rosette leaves 1/6 to 1 inch long, withering early; narrow stem leaves oblanceolate to linear-oblanceolate up to 5/8-inch long and 1/16-inch wide.
Inflorescence: Small composite daisy flowers, 1/2-inch or less across, with 5 to 18 normally white petals, sometimes lavender-pink; 6 to 25 yellow disk florets; cylindrical involucre.
Bloom Period: March to June.
References: SEINet and "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston.
BONAP Distribution Map

Texas Status:
Native
Scientific Name Chaetopappas ericoides (Leucelene ericoides) USDA PLANTS Symbol CHER2
Common Name Rose Heath, Small-flower Aster ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 501376
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower) SEINet
Reference
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Description Life zones and habitat: Open dry sites in shale, gypsum, igneous and limestone soils along roadsides, grasslands and woodlands; widepread in the West; 3,000 to 7,500 ft.
Plant: Low, much-branched perennial 2 to 6 inches tall; stems with appressed hairs, sometimes glandular.
Leaves: Alternate, sessile, somewhat appressed and overlapping along the stems; narrow blades linear to oblanceolate, 1/4 to 3/4-inch long, entire with pointed tips; surfaces with short, stiff glandular or pubescent hairs.
Inflorescence: Small, solitary compound flower head on each stem with 8 to 25 white to slightly pinkish ray florets less than 1/3-inch long; 12 to 24 yellow disk florets; hairy green phyllaries beneath taper to a sharp, reddish-purple tip; the ends of the rays bending downwards later in the day.
Bloom Period: March to October.
References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, American Southwest, SEINet and Leucelene ericoides in "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston.
Note: Click here for more photos of C. ercioides.
BONAP Distribution Map


Map Color Key
Texas Status:
Native
Scientific Name Chaetopappa bellidifolia USDA PLANTS Symbol CHBE2
Common Name Dwarf White Aster, Whiteray Least-daisy ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 37009
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower) SEINet
Reference
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Description Habitat: Dry calcareous soils, open areas.
Plant: Low-growing annual, less than 12 inches tall with single to a few hairy, weak, branched stems.
Leaves: Hairy, oblanceolate to oblong-spatulate basal leaves 1/4 to 1-3/8 inches long, withering early; stem leaves similar shape but smaller.
Inflorescence: Small composite daisy flowers, 1/2-inch or less across, with 6 to 15 lavender to pale blue, sometimes white petals; 8 to 22 yellow disk florets; conical involucre.
Bloom Period: April to July.
References: SEINet, "Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country" by Marshall Enquist and "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston.
BONAP Distribution Map

Texas Status:
Native

© Tom Lebsack 2023