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big tarweed
Scientific Name: Blepharizonia plumosa ssp. viscida
Family: Asteraceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names:
Blepharizonia plumosa (Big Tarweed)
Blepharizonia plumosa, commonly known as big tarweed, is a California native plant species.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Blepharizonia plumosa (Kellogg) Greene
- Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
- Rank: Species
- Synonyms: Blepharizonia laxa, Blepharizonia plumosa ssp. viscida
- Subspecies: Blepharizonia plumosa subsp. plumosa (Kellogg) Greene
Distribution and Habitat
- Blepharizonia plumosa is endemic to central California.
- It grows in dry slopes and grassland habitats, particularly in the Central Coast region.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Big tarweed is an annual forb/herb, meaning it's a non-woody plant that completes its life cycle in one year.
Ecological Role
- The seeds of tarweed are eaten by birds and small mammals.
- It is noted that some species can dominate depleted areas.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Large monarch caterpillars have been observed on tarweed.
- It's also mentioned that a particular green caterpillar was found in abundance in large tarweed patches.
Quirky Facts
- The text references an audio pronunciation of "Big Tarweed" on pronouncekiwi.
- There's a mention of tarweed being a "sweet vagrant of the valley" in a poetic context.
Resources
- USDA PLANTS Database is mentioned as a reference for common names.
- Discover Life has a page dedicated to the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Blepharizonia plumosa.
- CalPhotos provides images of Blepharizonia plumosa subspecies.