Malacothrix glabrata – “Desert Dandelion”

Also Known As: Smooth Desert Dandelion
Other Botanical Names: Malacothrix californica var. glabrata
Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)
Bloom Period: Mar-Jun
Form: Annual herb
Habitat: Sandy soils and human-disturbed areas
Leaves: Oblong to oblanceolate, pinnately-lobed; mostly basal
Translation: “Malacothrix” is Greek for “soft hair,” and describes the fluffy seedhead; “glabrata” is Latin for “bald” and refers to the smooth leaves and stems.
Notes: The word “dandelion” is derived from the French “dents de lion” which means “lion’s tooth” and describes the serrated leaves of the common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis), which is also in the Sunflower Family. In the spring, Desert Dandelion puts on a show along roadsides with its simple yet colorful flowers, each often having a reddish “button” at its center. Each plant can have a dozen flowers open at once. Like the common Dandelion, this plant exudes a milky sap.
Animal Associations: Host plant for Heliolonche pictipennis moth.