Flowers: Blooms in spring, also sporadically throughout the summer and fall (as late as late November) in response to rain. Flowers daisy-like, yellow, about 2-inch diameter, held on long, unbranched stalks above the leaves. Ray flowers 11-21. Receptacle flat to convex.
Seeds: Many small seeds per flowerhead; dispersed long distances by wind. Individual seeds flattened with thin edges and a ciliate margin.
Habitat: Well-drained sandy, gravelly, and rocky soils.
Elevation: About 1,500 to 4,500 feet.
Distribution: Occurs across the southwestern deserts from southern California to the southwest corner of Utah and southwest corner of New Mexico, and south into Mexico.
Comments: Virgin River Brittlebush is browsed by mule
deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), but it
has little value for domestic livestock. Kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp.) eat the seeds. |