About Monoptilon bellidiforme Torr. & A.Gray ex A.Gray
Monoptilon bellidiforme Torr. & A.Gray ex A.Gray is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, commonly called daisy desertstar and small desert star. It is native to the desert southwest of the United States, growing in typical desert habitats including sandy flats and washes. This species is similar to the other species in the Monoptilon genus, M. bellioides, but it is usually smaller. Its stem is only a few centimeters long, and it can sometimes be short enough that the plant's inflorescence sits at ground level. Its leaves are no longer than one centimeter. The flower head holds many ray florets that are usually white, and sometimes tinged with purple. The ray florets measure 5 to 7 millimeters in length. The fruit of the plant is an achene about half a centimeter long when including the pappus; the pappus is an elongated bristle surrounded by fused scales.
