Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
12 inches
Riparian
No
Undershrub or subshrub, 12 inches high by 18 inches wide on average.
Leaf margins usually sharply toothed or serrated, rarely having a smooth margin. Outer bracts ovate, lance-ovate, or lance-linear. Flowerheads have 40 to 90 florets.
Habitat
Rocky granite ledges, dry slopes, dry washes.
Plant Community
Desert Scrub
Interior Chaparral
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Low elevation
2000
High elevation
7500
Flower Characteristics
Flowers are cylindric, yellowish-green to cream and may be tinged with red or purple. Flowers are often one per flowering stem, sometimes in loose, panicle-like clusters, grouped at branch ends.
Flower color
Yellowish-green to white
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
May
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems are densely branched. Leaves are opposite or alternate and lance-like or oval. Margins are usually sharply toothed.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
Yes
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Achenes are 10-ribbed, generally cylindric and hairy or bristled.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Light brown
Seeds are less than 1/10 inch in diameter.