Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Perityle emoryi var. nuda, P. grayi, P. greenei
Other common names
Emory's rocklily
desert rock daisy
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
To about 2 feet
Riparian
No
Annual with few to many erect or spreading stems, delicate to hardy, at times persisting after maturity. Hairy leaves have round to pointy divisions. Small, showy, white, daisy-like flowers with yellow centers grow singly or in clusters at the stem tips.
Annual; few to many erect or spreading stems; leaves rounded to heart-shaped; ray flowers usually 8 to 14, white; disc flowers yellow, 40 to 100 or more; achene margins thin (not calloused), topped with 0 or 1 barbed bristle and a crown of scales.
Habitat
Primarily found in sandy or gravelly soil on desert plains, in washes (areas with spiny shrubs having sporadic streams), on rocky slopes, canyons, cliffs and hillsides especially among larger rocks. Often associated with creosote bush scrub communities.
Plant Community
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
0
High elevation
3000
Flower Characteristics
A 1/2 inch wide flower head consists of 8 to 14 strap-shaped white ray flowers encircling 40 to 100+ yellow tube-like disc flowers which form a rounded cone in the center when mature. Below the flower head are many green, hairy, flat leaf-like bracts.
Flower color
White, yellow center
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
February
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are short-stemmed, rounded to heart-shaped, at times triangular, about 2-1/2 inches long, 2 inches wide and deeply divided with pointed or lobed margins. Most leaves are alternately attached on the upper stem but may be opposite near the stem base.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Dry fruit is 1-seeded, 1/16 to 1/8 inch long with thin hairy margins and does not split open to release the seed when mature. Its shape is sub-oblong (2x as long as wide) or lance-shaped or wedge-shaped and may have 1 hooked hair-like bristle at the top.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Black
1 seed is produced by the fruit. The surface of the seed (seed coat) is not attached to the wall of the fruit making it easier to disperse when mature. The bristle at the top of the fruit (pappus), if present, also aids in the seed's dispersal.