Florida Yellowtops

Flaveria floridana is known only from the lower Gulf coast of Florida; it is especially prevalent in the Tampa Bay area. The relatively long calyculus bractlets and modified peduncular leaves that extend beyond the heads distinguish it from F. linearis, the other perennial species in Florida. The closest relative of F. floridana is probably the similar F. brownii of the Texas Gulf coast.

Perennials (or annuals), 50–120 cm (usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely pubescent distally on peduncles). Stems erect. Leaves sessile; blades usually linear or lanceolate, rarely subelliptic, 50–140 × 4–17 mm, bases ± connate, margins entire, minutely serrate, or spinulose-serrate. Heads 20–100+, in dense, scorpioid-cymiform arrays. Calyculi of 1–3 linear-lanceolate bractlets 4–6 mm (often surpassing involucres). Involucres suburceolate, oblong-angular, 3.6–4.5 mm. Phyllaries 5–6(–9), oblong or ovate-orbiculate. Ray florets 0 or 1; laminae yellow, ovate-spatulate, 2–2.8 × 1.5–2 mm. Disc florets 9–14; corolla tubes 0.8–1 mm, throats funnelform, 1.3–1.5 mm. Cypselae oblong-oblanceolate or linear, 1.2–1.8 mm; pappi 0. 2n = 36.

Flaveria floridana T. R. Johnston, Proc. Am. Acad 39: 291. 1903.
A stout dichotomously branched annual herb; stem striate, glabrous, 5-10 dm. high; leaves linear to lance-linear, rarely denticulate, 2.5-8 cm. long, 3-12 mm. wide, slightly connate; inflorescence irregular; glomerules compact, subtended by a whorl of leaves; heads 10-13-flowered; involucral bracts subequal, 4 mm. long; ligule oval, 2 mm. long; disk-corollas 2.5 mm. long, glabrous; tube shorter than the funnelform throat; achenes 1.5 mm. long.
Type locality: Sanibel Island, Florida. Distribution: Florida.

Flaveria floridana, the Florida yellowtops, is a North American plant species of Flaveria within the family Asteraceae. It has been found only along the Gulf Coast of Florida between Clearwater and Marco Island, mostly in the Tampa Bay region.

Flaveria floridana is an perennial herb up to 120 cm (3.9 ft) tall. Leaves are long and narrow, up to 14 cm (5.5 in) long. One plant can sometimes produce as many as 100 flower heads in a tightly packed array. Each head contains 9-14 yellow disc flowers. Sometimes it produces a single yellow ray flower as well.