Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Other common names
Fendler's dandelion
desert dandelion
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
1 to 6 inches
Riparian
No
Low, basal cluster of lobed, pinnate leaves. Plant stems may be along ground or along ground and then ascending. Yellow flowers at the end of branched stems are dandelion-like.
Spreading or ascending sparingly branched annual; leaves mostly in a basal tuft, spaculate in shape, deeply lobed to pinnatifid; flower heads are yellow ray flowers borne at the tips of sparsely leafy branches; ray flowers are purplish on the underside.
Habitat
Foothills, sandy plains and mesas. Grasslands, pinyon-juniper woodlands and desert scrub (cresote associations).
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
2000
High elevation
5000
Flower Characteristics
Flower heads are 1 to 1-1/2 inches wide consisting of many yellow, notched ray petals. The backs of the petals are washed with purple or lavendar.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
June
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Basal leaves are lobed to pinnatifid, 1 to 3 inches long. Stems are without hairs but may have a waxy coating.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Dark brown
Cylindric, evenly ribbed or striate, topped with white bristles.