Eriophyllum mohavense
Encyclopedia
Eriophyllum mohavense, also known as the Mojave woolly sunflower or the Barstow woolly sunflower is a rare species of flowering plant in the aster family
. It is endemic to the Mojave Desert
of California
, where it grows in the desert scrub. This is a tiny annual herb forming woolly tufts only 1 to 3 centimeters tall. There are a few lobed, pointed leaves at the base of the tuft, no more than a centimeter long each. The plant produces cylindrical flower head
just a few millimeters wide containing usually three bright yellow disc florets. The disc florets have raylike lobes, but there are no true ray florets. The fruit is an achene
about half a centimeter long including a short pappus
.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
. It is endemic to the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it grows in the desert scrub. This is a tiny annual herb forming woolly tufts only 1 to 3 centimeters tall. There are a few lobed, pointed leaves at the base of the tuft, no more than a centimeter long each. The plant produces cylindrical flower head
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
just a few millimeters wide containing usually three bright yellow disc florets. The disc florets have raylike lobes, but there are no true ray florets. The fruit is an achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
about half a centimeter long including a short pappus
Pappus (flower structure)
The pappus is the modified calyx, the part of an individual disk, ray or ligule floret surrounding the base of the corolla, in flower heads of the plant family Asteraceae. The pappus may be composed of bristles , awns, scales, or may be absent. In some species, the pappus is too small to see...
.