Giant Spanish Needle
(Palafoxia arida var. gigantea )
Asteraceae

BLM Photograph

Description: Annual or becoming perennial herb. Stems erect and much branched, 3-6.5 feet (1-2 meters) tall.  Leaves simple, linear to linear-lanceolate, 2.5-4.75 inches (6-12 centimeters) long, with smooth edges. Inflorescence with 10-20 heads, 1-1.25 inches (28-35 millimeters) in diameter, containing 18-40 disk flowers per head. Involucre (group of bracts) .37-.75 inches (1-2 centimeters) in diameter. Fruit four angled, +/- 0.5 inches (12-16 mm). _   

Distribution:

Habitat: Found in desert sand dunes at elevation 15-100 meters.

Flowering Period: Blooms February to May.

Similar Plants:

Status: BLM Sensitive, California Native Plant Society List 1B