Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Heterotheca lamarckii, H. latifolia, H. psammophila, H. scabra
Other common names
telegraph plant
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Biennial or annual
Height
1 to 5 feet
Riparian
No
Tall and erect drought tolerant plant known for a camphor-like odor released from its leaves when crushed. Long blooming with many yellow flowers at the tips of branches. Leaves basal and rarely persisting to flowering, sometimes present and withered.
Weedy annual or biennial, to 5 feet tall, erect, branches spreading, hairy; leaves aromatic, ovate or oblong, dentate or subentire, lower ones stemmed, deciduous, middle and upper sessile and clasping. Yellow ray flowers and yellow-orange disc flowers.
Habitat
Grows along roadsides and trails, disturbed areas, dry slopes and at edges of fields.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
1000
High elevation
5500
Flower Characteristics
The daisy-like flower head is 1/2 to 1 inch wide, composed of 15 to 30 slender overlapping yellow ray flowers and a yellow-orange center (disc flowers). There are many loosely clustered flower heads per plant, branching from the upper stems.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
November
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Oval leaves 1 to 4 inches long, slightly toothed margins. Leaves along middle and upper stem are stalkless and clasping. Stem is green, upright, with branching occurring only in the upper section. Leaves and stem are sticky due to glands in the hairs.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
Yes
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Tan
Achenes densely silky-hairy; bristles reddish-brown.