Malacothrix glabrata (Smooth desert dandelion)

Malacothrix glabrata (A. Gray ex D.C. Eaton) A. Gray

Malacothrix californica DC. var. glabrata A. Gray ex D.C. Eaton

Smooth desert dandelion, desert dandelion

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Asterales	Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
Family	Asteraceae	The aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
Genus	Malacothrix	From the Greek malakos, “soft,” and thrix, “hair,” thus referring to the wooliness of the young plant
Species	glabrata	Somewhat glabrous

About plant names...

Desert dandelion is native to southwestern North America.

Identification: Plants are 8-16" (20-40 cm) tall. There are few leaves, mostly at the base; upper leaves are alternate, pinnate, 3-6" (7.6-15 cm) long and threadlike. Flowers are yellow, light yellow, white, or white with yellow centers. Young flowers not yet fully opened have a red spot in the center. Flowers resemble dandelions in shape, and are ¾-1¾" (1.9-4.4 cm) in diameter. Each of the many ray flower petals have serrated tips with five serrations.

Online References:

Malacothrix glabrata on CalPhotos

Malacothrix glabrata at Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and the Plants of the Sonoran Desert

Malacothrix glabrata on Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Malacothrix glabrata at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Malacothrix glabrata at the Mindbird Maps and Books unofficial Mojave National Preserve site

Malacothrix glabrata on SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network

Malacothrix glabrata from the Jepson Manual

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
≈ 9 × 6" (23 × 15 cm)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
≈ 21 × 14" (52 × 34 cm)

Malacothrix glabrata description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 14 cm)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
≈ 9 × 7" (23 × 18 cm)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
≈ 24 × 16" (62 × 41 cm)

4/30/2018 · Kelso Depot Visitor Center, Mojave National Preserve, California
≈ 4 × 3" (10 × 8.4 cm) ID is uncertain

Blue flowers are Phacelia. · 2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
≈ 15 × 10" (39 × 26 cm)

Range:

About this map...