For other uses, see Desert Sunflower (disambiguation).
| Desert Sunflower | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Desert Sunflower (Geraea canescens)
|
||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Geraea canescens Torr. & Gray |
Geraea canescens is also known as the desert sunflower, hairy desert sunflower, or desert gold. It is a dicot and annual of the Aster (Asteraceae) family. "Gerea" in its scientific name comes from the Greek geraios ("old man"), referring to the white hairs on the fruits.[1] The desert sunflower has a yellow daisy-like flower, each flower on a slender, hairy stem. It grows 1-3 feet high. The leaves are gray-green and grow to three inches long. It flowers February through May after sufficient rainfall. It is native to western North America, specifically Arizona, Nevada, California, and Utah. A drought-tolerant plant, it can be found in the California, Mojave, and Sonoran Deserts. It grows from sea level to 4265 feet in sandy desert soil in the company of creosote brush.[2] The flower attracts bees and birds. Seeds are eaten by birds and rodents.[3] Varieties of Geraea canescens: Geraea canescens var. canescens, Geraea canescens var. paniculata
 |
 |
 |
External links
- USDA. Geraea canescens Torr. & Gray. Hairy Desertsunflower. PLANTS Profile.
- Geraea canescens. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
- Picture of Desert Sunflowers in Death Valley
- CalPhotos page for desert sunflower
- Map of the Desert Sunflower's range
References
- ^ Geraea canescens. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GECA2
- ^ CalFlora Taxon Report. http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Geraea+canescens
- ^ Desert Sunflower. Desert USA. http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/feb/papr/desunflower.html
