Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Haplopappus heterophyllus, H. pluriflorus, Isocoma wrightii, I. halophytica, Linosyris hirtella, L. pluriflora, L. wrightii
Other common names
Jimmyweed
southern jimmyweed
rayless goldenrod
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Isocoma rusbyi, Ericameria nauseosa
Height
1 to 3 feet
Riparian
Yes
Weak shrub or large perennial herb, usually woody at least toward the base, up to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide; stems erect to ascending, with smooth or fine, rigid hairs on branchlets, yellow flower heads of disc flower only.
Subshrub, similar to Ericameria nauseosa, but stems not whitish and has broader flower heads; leaves narrow, 1-nerved; flower heads of 7 to 15 disc flowers only, bracts (phyllaries) less than 1/4 inch long, not glandular.
Habitat
Found in floodplains, flats, seepy ground, ditches and drainages; in sandy, calcium or clay soils, and bajadas (alluvial fan at base of mountain).
Plant Community
Riparian
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
0
High elevation
6500
Flower Characteristics
Yellow, numerous in dense terminal clusters; bracts cylindrical to inverted cone-shaped, 1/4 inch high and wide, overlapping in several graduated series, straw colored with yellowish or greenish tips; 7 to 15 disc flowers per head, no ray flowers.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Alternate, along stems; blades narrow, up to 2 inches long; margins usually smooth, sometimes with short, squared teeth pointing outward; stiff, short hairs; surfaces densely punctate-resinous (dotted with a resinous substance).
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Achenes about 1/16 inch long with silky-stiff hairs; topped with a pappus of straw-colored bristles about 1/4 inch long.
Fruit type
Achene