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desert dandelion, smooth desert dandelion

Habit Annuals, (5–)10–40+ cm.
Stems

(1–)3–5+, ascending to erect, usually branched proximally and distally, glabrous or sparsely arachno-puberulent near bases (sometimes glaucous).

Cauline leaves

proximal usually pinnately lobed (lobes 3–6+ pairs, usually filiform, subequal to unequal, apices acute), ultimate margins entire, faces glabrous or ± hairy (then usually glabrescent);

distal reduced (usually pinnately lobed).

Involucres

campanulate to hemispheric, 9–17 × 4–7 mm.

Receptacles

bristly.

Florets

31–139;

corollas usually pale yellow, sometimes white, 15–23+ mm;

outer ligules exserted 9–15+ mm.

Phyllaries

20–25+ in 2–3 series, lance-linear to linear, hyaline margins 0.05–0.3 mm wide, faces usually glabrous, abaxial sometimes ± white-hairy.

Calyculi

of 12–20+, lanceolate to linear bractlets, hyaline margins 0.05–0.2 mm wide (abaxial faces often ± densely white-hairy).

Cypselae

± cylindro-fusiform (sometimes weakly 5-angled), 2–3.3 mm, ribs extending to apices, usually ± equal;

persistent pappi of 0–12+, blunt to acute teeth plus 1–2(–5) bristles.

Pollen

70–100% 3-porate.

2n

= 14.

Malacothrix glabrata

Phenology Flowering Mar–Jul.
Habitat Coarse soils in open areas, or among shrubs, creosote bush scrublands, Amsinckia, Artemisia, and Atriplex-Larrea associations, Joshua tree woodlands
Elevation 0–1800 m (0–5900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; ID; NM; NV; OR; UT; Mexico (Baja California, Sonora)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Malacothrix glabrata grows in the Mojave, Great Basin, and Sonoran deserts in California and the Intermountain region in Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 19, p. 316.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Cichorieae > Malacothrix
Sibling taxa
M. californica, M. clevelandii, M. coulteri, M. fendleri, M. floccifera, M. foliosa, M. incana, M. indecora, M. junakii, M. phaeocarpa, M. saxatilis, M. similis, M. sonchoides, M. sonorae, M. squalida, M. stebbinsii, M. torreyi
Synonyms M. californica var. glabrata
Name authority (A. Gray ex D. C. Eaton) A. Gray: in A. Gray et al., Syn. Fl. N. Amer. 1(2): 422. (1884)
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