genus Micropus

Member of paper daisies (tribe Gnaphalieae)
sunflower family (family Asteraceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

There are no other wild species of this genus in the bay area.

Jepson has a drawing of the palea of both species, and CalPhotos has a photo of M. californicus paleae. The palea wing orientation may be easier to see when one palea is removed from the head as in these drawings.

q-tips
Micropus californicus

paleae [see above] ± hood-like, body thick and hard throughout, wing projected ± upward from adaxial edge, obscure, ± rolled, beak-like, ± linear
common

mount diablo cottonseed
Micropus amphibolus

paleae [see above] ± helmet-like, body thick and cartilaginous near midvein, papery otherwise, wing projected inward from near top, prominent, ± flat to concave, ± obovate
very rare

1 observed taxon / 1 unobserved taxon / 1 key

Chris’s observations: 25 (12 are research grade)

Locations:

Henry Coe SP: 7
Calero CP: 6
Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve: 3
Santa Teresa CP: 3
Coyote Lake / Harvey Bear Ranch CP: 2
Joseph D. Grant CP
Lexington Reservoir CP
Rancho Cañada del Oro OSP
Russian Ridge OSP

Months:

Mar.: 3
Apr.: 15
May: 7

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora