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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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Atrichoseris platyphylla (Parachute plant)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Atrichoseris platyphylla

Atrichoseris platyphylla (A. Gray) A. Gray

Parachute Plant, Tobacco Weed

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Malacothrix platyphylla

USDA Symbol: ATPL

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A smooth, gray-green plant with a flat rosette of basal leaves and tall spindly stems, openly branched in upper half, with white or pale pink flower heads at branch ends.

The scientific name means the "flat-leaved" (platyphylla) "chicory plant without hairs" (Atrichoseris), referring to the absence of hairs on the fruit.

 

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall, often much shorter.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , NV , UT
Native Distribution: Southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona southwest to southeastern California.
Native Habitat: Sandy, desert washes.

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2008-12-17
Research By: TWC Staff

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