Senecio mohavensis – “Mojave Ragwort”

Also Known As: Mojave Groundsel
Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)
Bloom Period: Mar-May
Form: Annual herb
Habitat: Sandy, rocky washes, desert flats
Leaves: Ovate to obovate, coarsely lobed or irregularly toothed, fleshy and smooth; may be purple or red-veined underneath; mostly basal; upper leaves clasping stems, mostly at joints.
Translation: “Senecio” is Latin for “old man” and refers to the white fluff on the seeds; “mohavensis” just means “of the Mojave Desert.”
Notes: Toxic, can cause mild dermatitis.