Pricklyleaf Dogweed
Thymophylla acerosa
This photo was taken near Goodyear, Maricopa Co., Arizona on 11 Oct. 2007 and is hosted at Wikimedia.
PERENNIAL / SUBSHRUB : Low growing with a slightly woody crown usu. less
than 30 cm tall.
LEAVES Leaves simple, essentially linear, and often clusted at
nodes and thus appearing compound. Under magnification translucent oil glands can be seen which freely emit
pungent terpene-like odor. In a
high resolution image in Wikimedia Commons the glistening glands can be
seen.
RANGE : Fairly common on rocky slopes and washes across Arizona incl.
the Sonoran Desert ranging eastward into the Chihuahuan Desert. The specimen
above was in sandy/silty soil near the Gila River.
FLOWERS: Small, yellow-rayed inflorescences (composite heads) with
yellow disc flowers appearing late summer and fall. Oil glands also on the
phyllaries.
For many years this variety was known as Dyssodia acerosa DC.