Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Malacothrix glabrata (A. Gray ex D.C. Eaton) A. Gray
(Smooth Desert Dandelion)

Family: Asteraceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Malacothrix californica A.P. de Candolle var. glabrata Gray ex D.C. Eaton

Malacothrix glabrata is a desert plant with a bright yellow ray flowers. The leaves are linear and pinnatifid with short filiform segments. It has a pappus of soft bristles. Malacothrix glabrata is conspicuous when flowering and is easy to differentiate from Malacothrix fendleri which does not have linear-filiform leaves.
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Malacothrix glabrata, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Engineeer Canyon, April 2, 2009



Malacothrix glabrata, inflorescence, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Engineeer Canyon, April 2, 2009



Malacothrix glabrata, achenes with pappus of soft bristles, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Engineeer Canyon, April 2, 2009



Malacothrix glabrata, filiform leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Engineeer Canyon, April 2, 2009



Malacothrix glabrata, growth habit, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Burro Mtns., Engineeer Canyon, April 20, 2010


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