Encelia virginensis explained

Encelia virginensis is a North American species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae known by the common name Virgin River brittlebush. This shrub is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, particularly the Mojave Desert and the Sonoran Desert. It has been found in Baja California, southern California, Nevada, Arizona, southwestern Utah, and southwestern New Mexico.^[1]

Encelia virginensis is a bushy, sprawling shrub reaching heights between 100 and 150 cm (40-60 inches). It has many branches, with the younger parts hairy and the older stems developing a thickened bark. The gray-green, fuzzy to hairy foliage may be sparse, appearing pale because of the presence of many small hairs on the surface. Atop many erect, hairy stems are solitary daisy-like flower heads with 11 to 21 ray florets which are generally yellow, and a center of yellow disc florets. The fruit is an achene 5 to 8 millimeters long and usually lacking a pappus.^{[2] [3]}

Varieties

• Encelia virginensis var. actonii (Elmer) B.L.Turner - California, Nevada, Baja California^{[4] [5] [6]}
• Encelia virginensis var. virginensis - southern California, Nevada, Arizona, southwestern Utah, and southwestern New Mexico^{[1] [7]}

External links

• • Calflora Database: Encelia virginensis (Virgin River brittlebush, Virgin River encelia)
• Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Encelia virginensis
• USDA Plants Profile for Encelia virginensis (Virgin River brittlebush)
• UC Calphotos gallery of Encelia virginensis

Notes and References

1. http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Encelia%20virginensis.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map, Encelia virginensis
2. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250066502 Flora of North America, Encelia virginensis A. Nelson
3. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10350153#page/368/mode/1up Nelson, Aven 1904. Botanical Gazette 37(4): 272–273
4. http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Encelia%20actoni.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map, Encelia actoni
5. http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=2962 Calflora taxon report, University of California, Encelia actoni Elmer, Acton brittlebush
6. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250066495 Flora of North America, Encelia actoni Elmer
7. http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=2967 Calflora taxon report, University of California, Encelia virginensis Nelson, Virgin River brittlebush