SafePlants

Achyrachaena mollis: Blow-Wives

Achyrachaena mollis, commonly known as blow-wives, is an annual herb belonging to the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Achyrachaena mollis Schauer
• Common Name: Blow-Wives
• Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
• Genus: Achyrachaena (monotypic, meaning it contains only one species)

Distribution and Habitat

This plant is native to California, often found in moist habitats. It has been observed in locations such as the UCI Ecological Reserve in Irvine, Orange County, CA, and Mount Hamilton, CA.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Achyrachaena mollis is an annual herb with a taproot.
• It typically grows to a height of 5-60 cm, featuring erect shoots and ascending lateral stems.
• The plant has soft-hairy stems.
• Blow-wives exhibit both orange-red ray flowers and yellow-red disk flowers, though the yellow ray flowers turn red as they mature.
• The fruiting head is described as a spherical cluster of seeds with bright, almost shiny, white scales, resembling long flower petals. This seed head is considered more visually striking than the flowers themselves.

Ecological Role

Achyrachaena mollis is noted for its drought tolerance and is a California native plant. There is a passing mention that it can be mistaken for *Uropappus*. The text also mentions "Invasive Species" but does not explicitly say this plant is invasive.

Quirky Facts

• The seed head of Achyrachaena mollis, with its bright white scales, is the plant's most visually appealing feature. These scales aid in wind dispersal, similar to dandelion seeds.
• The common name "blow-wives" is intriguing, though the origin of the name is not explained in the provided text.

Further Information

• Discover Life offers a page dedicated to the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Achyrachaena mollis.
• CalPhotos provides images of Achyrachaena mollis.
• Wikimedia Commons hosts media related to Achyrachaena mollis.