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Native Plant Database

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Thymophylla pentachaeta (Fiveneedle pricklyleaf)
Cliffe, Harry

Thymophylla pentachaeta (DC.) Small

Fiveneedle pricklyleaf, Five-needle Fetid Marigold

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

USDA Symbol: THPE4

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A low, tufted, dark green, prickly plant with 1 small, deep yellow flower head on each of several leafless stalks above foliage.

This common low plant frequently grows near Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata) and Snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) or among piņon, juniper, and Snakeweed. The closely related Prickly Fetid Marigold (T. acerosa) is more woody and prickly, with flower heads that sit among undivided leaves. Both species were once included in the larger genus Dyssodia. Thymophylla is one of dozens of western North American genera that also have species in southern South America but have no species in the great distance between these two regions. This range distribution probably requires the long-distance dispersal of seeds, perhaps by migratory birds.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Subshrub
Fruit:

Bloom Information

Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , NM , NV , TX , UT
Native Distribution: Southern Utah south to southeastern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico.
Native Habitat: Open deserts and arid, rocky plains.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
National Butterfly Center - Mission, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0201 Collected Apr 4, 1992 in Comal County by Mary Beth White

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Thymophylla pentachaeta in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Thymophylla pentachaeta in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Thymophylla pentachaeta

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-06-16
Research By: TWC Staff

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