Woodland Woollythreads
Monolopia gracilens
NATIVE – CA ENDEMIC
Description (Jepson, PlantID.net)
- Eudicotyledon
- Eudicots are a major lineage of flowering plants; see family for general characteristics
- Sunflower Family (Asteraceae)
- Annual herb
- Stems slender and branching
- Leaves
- Opposite at base, then alternate
- Linear to ovate, sometimes toothed
- Woolly
- Flowers
- Inflorescence (flower arrangement) of one or several radiate heads (see Sunflower family)
- 7-11 yellow female (pistillate) ray flowers, sometimes slightly lobed
- Numerous bisexual disk flowers, creating a central, golden-yellow dome
- Phyllaries (vase-like floral bracts, collectively called the involucre) 7-11, in 1 series (rank), 1 per ray flower
- Ovary inferior (below the attachment of other flower parts)
- Inflorescence (flower arrangement) of one or several radiate heads (see Sunflower family)
- Fruit is an achene (a single-seeded, dry fruit that does not split open)
- Height to 31 in.
Distribution
- Native and endemic (limited) to California
- Grows in serpentine grassland, chaparral, and oak woodland
- 55-64% of plants occur on ultramafic soils, e.g. serpentine; see ultramafic affinity rankings (Calfora per Safford and Miller 2020)
- See Serpentine Grassland for more about Edgewood’s serpentine soil and the unique communities it supports
- See Calflora for statewide observations of this plant
- California Rare Plant Rank: 1B.2 (rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere)
- The genus Monolopia is endemic (limited) to California, and M. gracilens grows only in the Bay Area and into the South Coast Ranges
- Grows at elevations between 330 ft. and 3,940 ft.
Uses (San Mateo County Parks prohibits removal of any natural material)
- No documented wildlife or human uses found for this species
Name Derivation
- Monolopia (mon-oh-LO-pee-a) – from the Greek monos, “one,” and lopos, “covering,” describing the single row of phyllaries
- gracilens (gra-SIL-ens) – from the Latin gracieux, meaning “graceful” or “slender”
- Woodland monolopia – Despite its common name, woodland monolopia grows in a variety of habitats within its limited range
Notes
- Woolly hairs on leaves reflect harsh sun rays and help maintain humidity
ID Tips
- May be confused with goldfields (Lasthenia species), also in the Sunflower family, but the stout stems and thick, woolly leaves of woodland monolopia are very distinctive.
At Edgewood
- Found in chaparral along the Clarkia trail
- No iNaturalist observations are documented because locations of rare species are obscured
- Flowers April – June
Specific References
Alexander, E.B. 2010, Oct. and 2011, Jan. Serpentine soils and why they limit plant survival and growth. Fremontia 38/39: 28-31.
Safford, H.D. and J.E.D. Miller. 2020. An updated database of serpentine endemism in the California flora. Madroño 67(2): 85-104. BioOne Complete. PDF hosted by San Diego State University, San Diego, California.