Arida arizonica

Arida arizonica, (formerly Machaeranthera arida),[2] is an annual plant in the (sunflower family), known by the common names arid tansyaster,[3] desert tansyaster, and Silver Lake daisy.[4] It is native to the very arid deserts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, and usually looks straggly and not very attractive.[4] But in years with very heavy rainfall, it fills out and becomes rounded and bush like.[4]

Arida arizonica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Arida
Species:
A. arizonica
Binomial name
Arida arizonica
(R.C.Jacks. & R.R.Johnson) D.R.Morgan & R.L.Hartm.
Synonyms[1]
  • Machaeranthera ammophila Reveal
  • Machaeranthera arida B.L.Turner & D.B.Horne
  • Machaeranthera arizonica R.C.Jacks. & R.R.Johnson
  • Machaeranthera coulteri var. arida (B.L.Turner & D.B.Horne) B.L.Turner

Arida arizonica is widespread throughout its desert habitat in Arizona, Nevada, California and Sonora, including disturbed areas such as roadsides. It can be found in very arid, open sandy and salty soils, up to 3,000'.[4] It grows in creosote bush scrub, alkali sink, and desert dry wash areas in the central and eastern Mojave Desert from Barstow, California to Arizona and Sonora, Mexico.[4]

Description

Arida arizonica is an annual herb with a branching stem reaching up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) tall. The oblong leaves are up to 3 centimeters long, edged with bristly teeth, and sometimes divided into lobes. The herbage is coated with glandular rough hairs. The inflorescence bears one or more flower heads lined with glandular phyllaries. The head has a center of many yellow disc florets and a fringe of 25-35 lavender or white ray florets each a few millimeters long. The fruit is a hairy achene between 1 and 2 millimeters long. Fruits from the disc florets generally have pappi.[4][5]

It flowers between March and June.[4]

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References
  1. The Plant List Arida arizonica (R.C.Jacks. & R.R.Johnson) D.R.Morgan & R.L.Hartm.
  2. Mojave Desert Wildflowers, Pam MacKay, 2nd Ed., p. 314
  3. "Machaeranthera arida". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  4. Mojave Desert Wildflowers, Pam MacKay, 2nd Ed., p. 124
  5. Flora of North America, Arida arizonica'
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