Enceliopsis nutans Family: Asteraceae (A Utah Flora - Compositae) – Sunflower Family Perennial herbs; 4” to 10” (10 to 25 cm) tall Leaves: basal; simple; entire; has hairs; 0.8” to 3” (2 to 7.5 cm) long, 0.56” to 2.4” (1.4 to 6 cm) wide Flowers: discoid; yellow disk flowers numerous, perfect, fertile, disk 0.8” to 1.4” (2 to 3.5 cm) wide; flower head appears to be a single flower, but is composed of several flowers (a composite). Pollinators: other genera in this family are pollinated by insects Fruits: achene – 1 seeded with hard shell Blooms in Arches National Park: May, early June Habitat in Arches National Park: desert shrub and grassland communities in clayey or silty soils Location seen: Delicate Arch road Other: The genus name, “Enceliopsis”, means “like Encelia" (another genus in this family) and “opsis” means “likeness to”. The species name, “nutans”, means “nodding, pendant”. This plant is a Colorado Basin endemic and occurs in Carbon, Duchesne, Emery, Grand, Uintah and Wayne Counties in Utah and Delta, Mesa and Montrose Counties in Colorado. This family is the most advanced and complex of the dicots. The family is rich in oils and resins and is found in every part of the world, but is infrequent in the tropical rainforest. Aquatic or semi-aquatic species are also uncommon. |
Last updated: February 13, 2022