Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Biennial or perennial
Height
1 to 2-1/2 feet
Riparian
No
Stems rise up from base; leaves are highly dissected into narrow lobes; yellow flower heads in dense terminal clusters; each flower head has about 5 ray flowers, and considerably more disc flowers; looks like a yellow pinwheel.
Erect annual mostly branched near the top; divided leaves, narrow lobes, distinguished from Hymenothrix wrightii by its yellow disc florets; flower heads of 15 to 30 disc and 3 to 8 ray flowers; bracts (phyllaries) in 2 series of 4 to 8 bracts.
Habitat
Found in sandy soils, often on open slopes or along washes.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
2000
High elevation
5000
Flower Characteristics
Flower heads in branched, terminal clusters; 3 to 8 narrow, 3-toothed yellow rays to 1/4 inch long; disc florets yellow to yellowish-white, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long; tube full of granules.
Flower color
Yellow, yellowish-white
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
August
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems tall, slender, and branched, especially near the tips; alternate, leaves mainly at base of the plant; ternately divided (consisting of 2 or 3 leaflets) and dissected into 2 to 3 narrow lobes; to 4-3/4 inches long.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Dissected
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
1/8 to 1/4 inch.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Black
Slightly hairy; appearing to be cut off at the top and tapering to the base.