Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Actinolepis nivea, Eriophyllum multicaule var. pringlei
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
To 2 inches
Riparian
No
Dense woolly haired annual, spreading stems, flower heads of 10 to 20 disc flowers in leafy clusters or singly at the tips of stems; leaves roll downward.
Low growing annual, dense woolly hairs, branched from base; leaves alternate, rounded to triangular, thick, often 3-lobed at tip; flower heads glandular, yellow disc flowers clustered at stem tips, stemless, 6 to 8 rows of bracts in leafy clusters.
Habitat
Sandy or gravelly openings in desert, creosote-bush, or sagebrush scrublands, or chaparral.
Plant Community
Interior Chaparral
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
1500
High elevation
3000
Flower Characteristics
Flower heads of 10 to 20 very short disc flowers in terminal leafy clusters, flower tubes cylindric, abruptly spread out, lobes glandular; anther appendages triangular, tapering towards end, not glandular.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
May
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaf blades broadly rounded, thick, somewhat triangular; smooth margined but often 3-lobed at tip with margins rolled downward; up to 1/4 inch long; upper surface with dense woolly hairs.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf shape
Triangular
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Less than 1/16 inch long with 8 to 12 scales.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Light brown