Malacothrix glabrata (A. Gray ex D.C. Eaton) A. Gray
Smooth desert dandelion, desert dandelion
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Asteridae A large class that encompasses asters
Order Asterales Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
Family Asteraceae The aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
Genus Malacothrix From the Greek malakos , “soft,” and thrix , “hair,” thus referring to the wooliness of the young plant
Species glabrata Somewhat glabrous
About plant names...
Desert dandelion is native to southwestern North America.
Identification: Plants are 8-16″ (20-40 cm) tall.
There are few leaves, mostly at the base; upper leaves are alternate , pinnate , 3-6″ (7.6-15 cm) long and threadlike.
Flowers are yellow, light yellow, white, or white with yellow centers. Young flowers not yet fully
opened have a red spot in the center. Flowers resemble dandelions in
shape, and are ¾-1¾″ (1.9-4.4 cm) in diameter. Each of the many ray flower petals have serrated tips with
five serrations.
Online References:
CalPhotos
Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and the Plants of the Sonoran Desert
Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The Mindbird Maps and Books unofficial Mojave National Preserve site
SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network
The Jepson Manual
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)
Older scientific or horticultural names
Malacothrix californica DC. var. glabrata A. Gray ex D.C. Eaton
Malacothrix glabrata description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm)
4/30/2018 · Kelso Depot Visitor Center, Mojave National Preserve, California · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain
Blue flowers are Phacelia. · 2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)
Range:
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