Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Amauria dissecta, Amauriopsis dissecta
Other common names
yellow ragweed
cutleaf
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual or perennial
Height
8 to 36 inches
Riparian
No
Lanky plant with loose array of bright yellow flowers on thin red-tinged stems with distinctive leaves sparsely interspersed.
Biennial herb, glandular stems branch above the base. Leaves alternate, dissected 2 to 3 times into linear or oblong lobes, covered with short stiff hairs. Yellow flowers at tips of loosely branched seedheads; 10 to 15 ray and 30 to 80 disc flowers.
Habitat
Commonly found along roadsides and hiking trails and in dry, gravelly open sites; openings in pinyon-juniper, pine, or spruce-fir forests.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
4500
High elevation
9500
Flower Characteristics
Nickel to quarter sized golden yellow flowers, each made up of gently rounded and slightly notched petals radiating out from a central disc.
Flower color
Golden yellow
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
August
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Distinctly cut leaves are widely spaced on the tall slender red-tinged stems creating an airy or sparse appearance. The leaves are ternately compound (divided into 3's) with the largest segments divided again.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Dissected
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Black