About Stephanomeria diegensis Gottlieb
Stephanomeria diegensis is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family (Asteraceae), commonly known as San Diego wirelettuce. It is native to the coastal hills and ranges of southern California and Baja California, where it grows in many types of open habitat. This species evolved as a hybrid of Stephanomeria exigua and S. virgata, and is thought to have formed through homoploid hybrid speciation, an uncommon process. The plant is frequently misidentified as one of its parent species, especially when older taxonomic keys are used. It is an erect annual herb that easily grows over two meters tall. Its slender stem produces many spreading branches. Basal leaves are linear to lance-shaped, reaching up to 10 centimeters long; these leaves wither early and are absent for most of the year, giving the plant a twiglike appearance. Leaves growing on the upper stem are small and reduced. Inflorescences are usually clusters of flower heads arranged at intervals along the stiff branches. Each flower head has a cylindrical base lined with phyllaries, which are often glandular. The head contains several ray florets, each with an elongated tube and a white or pink-tinged ligule around one centimeter long. The fruit is a grooved achene, tipped with a spreading cluster of long, plumelike pappus bristles.
