Malacothrix glabrata


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 tall. The leaves are long, with stringy lobes. The fragrant flower heads are wide, composed of smaller yellow to white strap-like flowers called "ligules". In the center of the flower head may be an orange to red "button", composed of several immature flowers.

Taxonomy

It is a dicot in the family Asteraceae. The name "glabrata" refers to the leaves being hairless.

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.