woolly sunflowers

genus Eriophyllum

Member of tarweeds and allies (tribe Madieae)
sunflower family (family Asteraceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

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

Key features:

how far up is the plant woody
overall plant height
length of peduncle
diameter of involucre
number of phyllaries, strongly overlapping or barely
number and length of rays

golden yarrow
Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum

golden yarrow
Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum

subshrub or shrub, generally 20–70 cm
4–7 phyllaries, strongly overlapping
peduncle 0–2.5(9) cm
4–6 (0–8) rays, 2–5 mm
found in many dry habitats

jepson’s woolly sunflower
Eriophyllum jepsonii

subshrub, 50–80 cm
5–8 phyllaries, strongly overlapping
peduncle 4–14 cm
5–8 rays, 6–10 mm
heads 1–5; peduncle 5–10(14) cm; ray flowers 5–8, ray 6–10 mm –- SnFrB, SCoRI
scattered in the Diablo range

seaside woolly sunflower
Eriophyllum staechadifolium

seaside woolly sunflower
Eriophyllum staechadifolium

subshrub, much branched, 30–150 cm
peduncle < 1 cm
8–11 phyllaries, barely overlapping
6–9 rays, 3–5 mm
found in coastal dunes, bluffs, coastal scrub

san mateo woolly sunflower
Eriophyllum latilobum

subshrub, woody at base only
involucre 5–6(7) mm diam
6–13 rays, generally 6–10 mm
scattered in San Mateo County

common woolly sunflower
Eriophyllum lanatum

common woolly sunflower
Eriophyllum lanatum

herb
involucre 6–15 mm diam
5–15 phyllaries
5–13 rays, 6–20 mm
scattered
see also hillside daisies (genus Monolopia), which often have shorter rays

3 observed taxons / 2 unobserved taxons / 1 key

Chris’s observations: 92 (62 are research grade)

Locations:

Months:

Mar.: 2
Apr.: 10
May: 27
Jun.: 20
Jul.: 19
Aug.: 9
Sep.: 0
Oct.: 1
Nov.: 2
Dec.: 1
Jan.: 1

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora