Malacothrix glabrata, commonly known as the smooth desert dandelion or desert dandelion, is an annual plant with yellow flowers that appears in western North America.
Description
Like other members of its genus, Malacothrix glabrata has a milky sap and daisy-like flower heads. The plants grow to 15 to 40 cm (5 to 15 in) tall. The leaves are 6.5–12.5 cm (2+1⁄2–5 in) long, with stringy lobes.[1] The fragrant flower heads are 2.5 to 6.5 cm (1 to 2+1⁄2 in) wide,[1] composed of smaller yellow to white strap-like flowers called "ligules".[2] In the center of the flower head may be an orange to red "button", composed of several immature flowers.[3]
Flower and leaves
Flower close-up
Taxonomy
It is a dicot in the family Asteraceae.[2] The name "glabrata" refers to the leaves being (nearly) hairless.[2]
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the western United States, excluding much of the Pacific Northwest, and into northern Mexico. It is common to the southwestern deserts of North America.[2]
^ abcdMorhardt, Sia; Morhardt, Emil (2004). California Desert Wildflowers, University of California Press, pp. 64–65
^Susan J. Wernert, Reader's Digest Association, Brenda Jackson. North American Wildlife: An Illustrated Guide to 2,000 Plants and Animals. Reader's Digest, 1998. p.467. ISBN0-7621-0020-6
