About Encelia frutescens (A.Gray) A.Gray
Encelia frutescens, scientific name Encelia frutescens (A.Gray) A.Gray, has flower heads that most often lack ray florets, consisting only of a dense disc packed with disc florets, though this is not always the case. Its leaves are rough and covered in hairs. The species produces flat, light seeds that are dispersed by wind. It serves as an occasional food source for the desert tortoise. It is among the first plant species to colonize areas that have been disturbed or burned by fire. This species grows in desert habitats of the Southwestern United States, and is particularly common in the Mojave Desert across California, Nevada, and Arizona.
