Thelesperma Filifolium, Stiff Greenthread
Plants > Wildflowers > Asteraceae > Thelesperma Filifolium
Common name:
Stiff greenthread
Family:
Scientific name:
Thelesperma filifolium
Main flower color:
Range:
From east Arizona to Texas, and north into the Great Plains
Height:
Usually up to 15 inches; sometimes more
Habitat:
Rocky slopes, limestone plains; generally disturbed locations, up to 7,200 feet
Leaves:
Divided into linear or thread-like lobes, generally just over one inch in length
Season:
March to October
Thelesperma filifolium has a long flowering period, from spring into the fall, and it inhabits a wide variety of habitats, from coastal regions of Texas to mountainous areas over 7,000 feet. Along with thelesperma megapotamicum it is the most widespread species of this genus in the US, found in 15 states. The divided, lobed leaves produced along the lower two thirds of the stem are closely-spaced; separated by half an inch or more.
Flowerheads have 8 broad yellow ray florets, up to 0.8 inches long, around a center of several dozen disc florets, usually reddish brown, less often yellow with brown veins. The phyllaries are fused to most of their length, and sit above a ring of 7 to 8 bractlets, which are linear or narrowly triangular in shape, and relatively long, up to a third of an inch, generally angled upwards, often touching the underside of the ray florets.
Flowerheads have 8 broad yellow ray florets, up to 0.8 inches long, around a center of several dozen disc florets, usually reddish brown, less often yellow with brown veins. The phyllaries are fused to most of their length, and sit above a ring of 7 to 8 bractlets, which are linear or narrowly triangular in shape, and relatively long, up to a third of an inch, generally angled upwards, often touching the underside of the ray florets.
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