Blennosperma nanum | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Subfamily: | Asteroideae |
Tribe: | Senecioneae |
Genus: | Blennosperma |
Species: | B. nanum |
Binomial name | |
Blennosperma nanum (Hook.) S.F.Blake |
The annual herb Blennosperma nanum has the common names glue-seed and common stickyseed. It is a small yellow flower closely related to the daisy. The petals are a paler yellow than many other daisy-like flowers, and the ring of stamens ooze a viscous white juice containing the pollen. The seeds are also carried in a gluey fluid. The Greek name for the genus means "slimy seed."
The flower is distributed throughout the lower elevations in California, but is not particularly abundant. It is a resident of vernal pool floral communities. Glue-seed is often one of the first flowers to bloom as winter turns to spring.
There are two subspecies of the plant: