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Centromadia

Scientific Name: Centromadia

Family: Asteraceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Centromadia: A North American Genus

Centromadia is a genus of plants belonging to the tarweed tribe within the sunflower family (Asteraceae). These plants are native to North America, particularly California.

Considerations for Pets

  • Centromadia pungens is commonly known as spikeweed. The term "prickle" is present in the etymology of the scientific name Centromadia.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Centromadia Greene
  • Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family or Compositae)
  • Tribe: Tarweed
  • Common Names: Spikeweed, Tarweed (multiple species)
  • Synonyms:
    • Hartmannia pungens Hooker & Arnott (for Centromadia pungens)
    • Hemizonia perennis (Greene) D.D.Keck (Centromadia perennis Greene is a synonym)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Centromadia pungens is native and endemic to California.
  • Centromadia fitchii occurs widely in northern and central California (except deserts) and southwestern Oregon. It also has putatively introduced populations elsewhere.
  • Centromadia parryi is native to California.
  • Specific habitats include grasslands, seasonally flooded areas, and vernal pools (e.g., Smooth Tarplant observed in a vernal pool area west of Hemet, California).

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Centromadia pungens is a dicot and an annual herb.

Subspecies and Varieties

  • Centromadia pungens has several recognized subspecies, including:
    • Centromadia pungens ssp. pungens
    • Centromadia pungens ssp. laevis (D.D. Keck) B.G. Baldw.
    • Former subspecies maritima and septentrionalis are now treated as part of C. pungens subsp. pungens.
  • Centromadia parryi has several recognized subspecies, including:
    • Centromadia parryi ssp. australis (D.D. Keck) B.G. Baldwin (Southern Tarplant)
    • Centromadia parryi ssp. congdonii (Rob. & Greenm.) B.G. Baldwin (Congdon's Tarplant)
    • Centromadia parryi ssp. rudis (Greene) B.G. Baldw

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Cochylina species have been found nectaring diurnally on Centromadia pungens in the Central Valley of California.

Further Information

  • USDA PLANTS Database
  • CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition)
  • iNaturalist.org
  • CalPhotos
  • Discover Life
  • The Plant List
  • IPNI (International Plant Names Index)
  • Australian Plant Name Index
  • Index Nominum Genericorum (ING)