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Schwartzman, Steven

Pectis papposa

Pectis papposa Harv. & A. Gray

Manybristle Cinchweed, Chinchweed

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: PEPA2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Slender stems branching many times in a forked manner and forming a low, small, leafy plant with small yellow flower heads in bundles at branch ends.

On a hot summer afternoon in areas where these plants are numerous, the air is saturated with a heavy lemon odor reminiscent of furniture polish. A look-alike, Lemonweed (P. angustifolia), is often found with Chinchweed but is denser and has only one gland at the tip of each bract.

From the Image Gallery

5 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 1 foot tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Yellow
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov , Dec
Bloom Notes: Yellow, often tinged reddish abaxially.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , NM , NV , TX , UT
Native Distribution: Southern California east to western Texas and south to Mexico.
Native Habitat: Open areas on arid plains and deserts, especially on sandy soil; frequent along roadsides.

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Pectis papposa in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Pectis papposa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pectis papposa

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-30
Research By: TWC Staff

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