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Black-foot daisy

Also known as: rock daisy, plains blackfoot

Melampodium leucanthum T. & G.

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Black-foot daisy ray and disk florets
Black-foot daisy
Blue wild indigo habit
Black-foot daisy
Black-foot daisy
Black-foot daisy
Black-foot daisy leaves
Black-foot daisy
Black-foot daisy inflorescences
Black-foot daisy flowers
Black-foot daisy head

Morphology

Stem
Erect to spreading, many, slender, arising from woody crown, branched, stiff-hairy or rarely bristly short-hairy.
Leaves
Opposite, simple, sessile, linear to narrowly oblong, .8 to 1.6 inches long, to 2/5 inch wide; margins entire to slightly toothed or pinnately lobed.
Inflorescence
Heads, solitary, to 1 inch across, terminal; stalks slender, 1.2 to 2.8 inches long, arising from upper leaf axils.
Flower
Involucral bracts in 2 series; outer bracts 5, ovate, united more than 1/2 way, margins entire; inner bracts each enclosing 1 ray achene, expanded hood-like above achene; ray florets 8-13, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, white, fertile, tips toothed; disk florets 25-30, corollas yellow.
Fruit
Achenes, compressed, to 1/10 inch long, surface somewhat warty, enclosing small seed; bristles or scales absent.

Ecology

Habitat
Dry, open prairies, plains, pastures, and road cuts; rocky limestone soils.
Distribution
Southwest 1/4 of Kansas.

Additional Notes

Comments

Black-foot daisy is tufted and slightly shrubby. From Greek melas "black" and podos "foot" in reference to the small foot-shaped bracts subtending the ray florets which turn black when mature. Black-foot daisy is strongly drought-resistant. It is often observed with Rocky Mountain zinnia Zinnia grandiflora.

Quick Facts
Plant Type
Wildflower
Family
Asteraceae - Sunflower Family
Life Span
Perennial
Height
6-20 inches
Origin
Native
Last Updated
2007-12-04
Color Groups
White, Green & Greenish White Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Blooms: May, June, July, August