Piptocoma antillana Urb.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
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Family
Asteraceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Erect shrub 0.4-4 m tall, much-branched. Leaf blades 2-7 x 0.6-2.2 cm, lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, chartaceous, the upper surface glandular and puberulent, the lower surface often gray or rust-colored, the base attenuate and tapering onto a petiole, the margins entire; petioles 2-8 mm long. Inflorescence subcompact, to 4 x 6 cm, with to ca. 35 heads. Heads (4-)5-6(-7)-flowered, to 7.5 mm tall; involucre 4.5-6 X 2-3 mm , 4-5-seriate; involucral bracts elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, apically rounded, outer 2 or 3 herbaceous, pubescent, inner ones scarious and glabrous, except for the pubescent and glandular tips; peduncles 1-11 mm long, occasionally absent. Corollas 5-6 mm long, lavender, the lobes and sometimes the tube glandular. Achenes 1.5-2.5 mm long; pappus cream-colored, outer series ca. 0.5-1 mm long, inner series ca. 4-5 mm long.
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Distribution
Common in sandy or rocky areas behind shore vegetation. Coral Bay (R1916), East End (A666), Southside Pond (A1816). Also on Peter Island (fide D'Arcy, 1967), St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico South America| Virgin Gorda Virgin Islands South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America|