About Madia sativa Molina
Madia sativa is an annual herb that ranges in height from 20 centimeters to well over two meters. Its leafy stem may be branched or unbranched. The plant is densely covered in sticky resin glands and has a strong scent. Its hairy leaves are linear or lance-shaped, and the lowest leaves can reach up to 18 centimeters in length. Its inflorescence is generally a cluster of flower heads, which are lined with bristly, glandular phyllaries. Each flower head holds approximately 8 yellowish ray florets a few millimeters long, surrounding a center of several disc florets tipped with dark anthers. The fruit produced is a flat, hairless achene that lacks a pappus. This species has been cultivated to obtain seed oil from its seeds. Madia sativa is native to the Americas, with two main native distribution areas. The first is the west coast of North America, stretching from Alaska and British Columbia, through all of California's western mountain ranges, down to Baja California. The second is in South America, where it occurs in Chile and Argentina. The plant grows in many types of habitats, including disturbed areas. In western North America, it is most commonly found in coastal grasslands and adjacent areas.
