''Malacothrix junakii'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the family
Asteraceae known by the common names Anacapa Island desert-dandelion, Junak's desertdandelion, and Junak's malacothrix. It is
endemic to
Anacapa Island, one of the
Channel Islands of California, where it is known from just two occurrences.
[California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Profile]
/ref> It occurs in the coastal scrub of the island. It was described to science as a new species in 1997.[Davis, W. S. (1997). The systematics of annual species of ''Malacothrix'' (Asteraceae: Lactuceae) endemic to the California Islands. ''Madroño'' 44 223–244.]
This is an annual herb with a branching, leafy stem up to 30 centimeters tall. The leaves are lance-shaped with toothed or lobed blades, the upper leaves with fewer, narrower lobes. The inflorescence contains several flower heads
A pseudanthium (Greek for "false flower"; ) is an inflorescence that resembles a flower. The word is sometimes used for other structures that are neither a true flower nor a true inflorescence. Examples of pseudanthia include flower heads, compos ...
in one or more open clusters. The head is lined with hairless red-tinged green phyllaries. It contains yellow ray florets each roughly a centimeter long.
This rare species faces threats from introduced plant species on the island.[
]
References
External links
Jepson Manual TreatmentUSDA Plants ProfileFlora of North AmericaThe Nature Conservancy
junakii
Endemic flora of California
Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands
Natural history of the Channel Islands of California
Natural history of Ventura County, California
Plants described in 1997
Critically endangered flora of California
{{Cichorieae-stub