About Malacothamnus lucianus (Kearney) K.Morse
Identification. Malacothamnus lucianus is set apart from all other species in its genus by the combined features of a capitate to subcapitate inflorescence and relatively long glandular trichomes. It can be distinguished from both Malacothamnus palmeri and Malacothamnus involucratus by its stem trichome traits: for M. lucianus, many rays of the stem stellate trichomes are 1–3 mm long, and many of its glandular trichomes are 0.3–1.4 mm long. In contrast, most rays of the stellate trichomes on the stems of Malacothamnus palmeri and Malacothamnus involucratus are less than 1 mm long, and their glandular trichomes are less than or equal to 0.1 mm long. Malacothamnus lucianus also often has a faintly rancid odor, a trait that has not been recorded in Malacothamnus palmeri and Malacothamnus involucratus.
