Malacothrix glabrata (A. Gray ex D.C. Eaton) A. Gray
Smooth desert dandelion, desert dandelion
Desert dandelion is native to southwestern North America.
Plants: 6–16″ (15–40 cm) tall. Stems and leaves exude a milky sap.
Leaves: There are few leaves, mostly at the base; upper leaves are alternate, pinnate, 3–6″ (7.6–15 cm) long and threadlike.
Flowers: 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 ⅞–2½″ (2.5–6.5 cm) in diameter. Each of the many ray flower petals have serrated tips with five serrations. Flower centers may contain a dark red spot comprised of immature petals.
Habitats: Common in southwestern deserts in the United States and Mexico. They are found in plains and mesas; coarse soils, rocky hillsides, open areas or among shrubs in desert habitats, often in creosote sandy washes and flats, bush communities, foothill woodlands.
Online References:
Malacothrix californica DC. var. glabrata A. Gray ex D.C. Eaton
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 6 × 6″ (16 × 15 cm) 
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm) 
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 · ≈ 2 × 1′ (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) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| 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 |
Malacothrix glabrata description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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