Perityle emoryi – “Rock Daisy”

Also Known As: Emory Rock Daisy
Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)
Bloom Period: Jan-Jun
Form: Annual herb
Habitat: Rocky settings, even growing out of canyon walls
Leaves: Round, toothed or lobed; alternate on the stems; opposite at the base
Translation: “Perityle” is Greek and translates as “around the margin,” which refers to the thick calloused edges of the fruiting body; “emoryi” is named for Major William Hemsley Emory (1812-1887), a military careerist who participated in the forced removal of the Creek Indians from Georgia, directed the Mexican Boundary Survey, and fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War. Let’s come up with another species name for this cute little daisy, which has none of the genocidal, imperialist, war-mongering tendencies of its namesake.
Notes: Also native to South America.