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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Geraea canescens (Hairy desert-sunflower)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Geraea canescens

Geraea canescens Torr. & A. Gray

Hairy Desert-sunflower, Desert Sunflower, Desert Gold

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Geraea canescens var. canescens, Geraea canescens var. paniculata

USDA Symbol: GECA2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A slender, hairy plant with a few leaves and golden-yellow flower heads at the ends of the several branches.

Gerea comes from the Greek geraios ("old man"), referring to the white hairs on the fruits. After adequate rain, these plants may line mile after mile along hot, dry, desolate roadsides.

 

From the Image Gallery

5 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 32 inches tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Oct , Nov , Dec

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , NV , UT
Native Distribution: Se. California to sw. Utah; south to w. Arizona and nw. Mexico.
Native Habitat: Sandy, barren, flat desert.

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-27
Research By: TWC Staff

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