Picris echioides 
(bristly ox-tongue)

Asteraceae

 

Description:

Plants 3-10 dm tall; stems usually branched. Leaves oblong to oblanceolate, 4-18 cm long, dentate to irregularly lobed, upper ones sessile or clasping. Heads many, terminal and axillary, often in clusters, 1.5-3.5 cm long; involucres more or less hemispheric; phyllaries more or less erect, outer ones ovate, leaf-like, inner ones lanceolate. Achenes 2.5-3.5 mm long, beak 2.5-3.5 mm long; pappus plumose, white. Flowers May-June

Distribution:
San Nicolas and Santa Catalina islands; throughout N. America, native of Europe.

 

Santa Cruz Island

Rare; eroded creek bank; coastal scrub; grasslands ca. 30 ft (9 m)

1992(1)
Single collection from Alegria Canyon

2006(2)
 Collected "on top of the ridge between Sauces and Pozo Canyons (Just below the road in thick annual grass thatch) 8/06."   Single plant found at Scorpion Ranch 10/06.
 

2007(3)
Large patch found (and removed) between Dephine's grove and trail, east of Scorpion Canyon.

 

Photos
Click on a picture for a larger image

Picris echioides pictured on the mainland

 

Close up of the flowers

 

(1) Provided by "A Flora of Santa Cruz Island" Steve Junak et al. Copyright Santa Barbara Botanic Garden & California Native Plant Society 1995.
(2) By David Dewey of The Nature Conservancy
(3) By Sarah Chaney, Channel Islands National Park.

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Last modified: January 30, 2006