Malacothrix glabrata

Malacothrix glabrata (smooth desert dandelion or desert dandelion) is an annual plant in the sunflower 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
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Tribe:
Cichorieae
Genus:
Malacothrix
Species:
M. glabrata
Binomial name
Malacothrix glabrata
(A.Gray ex D.C.Eaton) A.Gray

The species is native to the western United States, excluding much of the Pacific Northwest, and into northern Mexico. It is a dicot.

M. glabrata is typically 5 to 15 inches (13 to 38 cm) tall with a 1.5-to-2.5-inch (3.8 to 6.4 cm) 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]

References
  1. Sia Morhardt, Emil Morhardt, California Desert Wildflowers, University of California Press, p. 64-65
  2. Susan J. Wernert, Reader's Digest Association, Brenda Jackson. North American Wildlife: An Illustrated Guide to 2,000 Plants and Animals. Readers Digest, 1998. p.467. ISBN 0-7621-0020-6


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