Malacothrix glabrata
Malacothrix glabrata, commonly known as the smooth desert dandelion or desert dandelion, is an annual plant in the family Asteraceae.[1] It is common to the southwestern deserts of North America and has showy pale-yellow to white flowers.[1] The name "glabrata" refers to the leaves being (nearly) hairless.[1] Like other members of its genus, it has a milky sap and flower heads composed of smaller strap-like flowers called "ligules".[1]
| Malacothrix glabrata | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Malacothrix |
| Species: | M. glabrata |
| Binomial name | |
| Malacothrix glabrata | |
The species is native to the western United States, excluding much of the Pacific Northwest, and into northern Mexico. It is a dicot.
Malacothrix glabrata is typically 125 to 380 mm (5 to 15 in) tall with a 40 to 65 mm (1+1⁄2–2+1⁄2 in) flower head. Its fragrant, daisy-like flower heads are in shades of yellow or white, and flower heads may have an orange to red "button" in the center of the flower head, composed of several immature flowers.[2]
Gallery
Desert dandelions in the Pinto Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, California.
Malacothrix glabrata, photographed at Joshua Tree National Park.
Desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Desert dandelions and desert pincushions, Joshua Tree National Park, March 30, 2005
M. glabrata flower & hairless leaves
References
- Sia Morhardt, Emil Morhardt, California Desert Wildflowers, University of California Press, p. 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. ISBN 0-7621-0020-6
External links