Leaves usually with some pubescence (downy hair) and dotted with sticky glands, some of which may actually be on tiny stalks. Some leaves have entire (smooth) margins; some have a 1-2 small dull teeth on each margin toward the tip. The tip may be either obtuse (blunt) or acute (with a distinct point). The leaves are ~ 0.6-5 cm long, ~0.5-1.5 cm wide, mostly glabrous (smooth-surfaced), sometimes scurfy (covered with dusty or scaly debris because of the stickiness), sometimes tomentose (woolly) and grey-green. Midrib is prominent, raised on the underside, and veining is pinnately branching away from this. The base of the leaf may include axillary fascicles (a bunch of smaller leaves coming out of the angle between the main leaf and the stem), giving it a kind of whorled appearance. Inflorescence consists of a few composite flowerheads bunched in tight, roundish to flattish terminal clusters of 3-10 flowerheads each. Phyllaries or involucral bracts are imbricated (woven or layered together) with blunt greyish-green tips. The involucres are ~4.5-10 mm long and 2.5-8 mm across, generally bell or cylinder shaped. Disk flowers only, yellowish. The fruit is an achene (dry 1-seeded fruit) <3.5 mm long, silky or shaggy, silverish, with a pappus or fringe of many bristly brown or beige hairs (modified sepals). Blooms from April to December. Plant forms a very leafy shrub ~1-2 m tall, with erect or sprawling stems. Favors sandy soils, both on the coast and inland, under 1200 m in elevation. Found along the South Coast, the Peninsular Range down into Baja, the Central Coast Ranges, the Bay Area, and the southwestern Sacramento Valley. Associated with the coastal strand, coastal and interior wetlands, California sage scrub, and riparian (streamside) vegetation.
Isocoma menziesii aka Happlopappus venetus (Asteraceae aka Compositae): coastal isocoma or coast goldenbush or Menzies' goldenbush
The development of this key was partially funded through the Geoscience Diversity Enhancement Program (Award #0703798) and through a course of re-assigned time provided by the CSULB Scholarly and Creative Activities Committee. Thanks also to the students in sections of biogeography, introductory physical geography, GDEP, and LSAMP for "test-driving" various editions of this key.