| Malacothrix junakii | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
 Critically Imperiled (NatureServe) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Malacothrix |
| Species: | M. junakii |
| Binomial name | |
| Malacothrix junakii W.S.Davis | |
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. It occurs in the coastal scrub of the island. It was described to science as a new species in 1997.
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 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
- ^ California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Profile
- Davis, W. S. (1997). The systematics of annual species of Malacothrix (Asteraceae: Lactuceae) endemic to the California Islands. Madroño 44 223–244.
External links
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Malacothrix junakii |
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- NatureServe critically imperiled species
- Malacothrix (plant)
- 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 stubs