About Agoseris heterophylla (Nutt.) Greene
Agoseris heterophylla (Nutt.) Greene is an annual herb that grows a basal rosette of leaves. Its oblanceolate leaves can be toothed, pinnatifid, or entire, and reach a maximum size of 15 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. This species often lacks a true stem, or may develop a short, rudimentary true stem, while producing several stem-like peduncles. Each solitary flower head holds one or two rows of sharp-pointed bracts, which often have purplish hairs. The flower head has a corolla made up of yellow ray florets, and does not produce disc florets. Its fruit is an achene that can be highly variable in form, but typically has a long beak and a terminal pappus of white bristles. This species flowers from March to September. There are three recognized varieties: Agoseris heterophylla var. cryptopleura, found in California; Agoseris heterophylla var. heterophylla, distributed from British Columbia to Baja California, including Guadalupe Island; and Agoseris heterophylla var. quentinii, found in Arizona and New Mexico.
