Malacothrix glabrata
# Malacothrix glabrata

Malacothrix glabrata, commonly known as the smooth desert dandelion or desert dandelion, is an annual plant in the family Asteraceae. It is common to the southwestern deserts of North America and has showy pale-yellow to white flowers. The name "glabrata" refers to the leaves being (nearly) hairless. Like other members of its genus, it has a milky sap and flower heads composed of smaller strap-like flowers called "ligules".

The species is native to the western United States, excluding much of the Pacific Northwest, and into northern Mexico. It is a dicot.

Malacothrix glabrata is typically 125 to 380 mm (5 to 15 in) tall with a 40 to 65 mm (1+1⁄2–2+1⁄2 in) flower head. Its fragrant, daisy-like flower heads are in shades of yellow or white, and flower heads may have an orange to red "button" in the center of the flower head, composed of several immature flowers.

## Gallery

* Desert dandelions in the Pinto Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, California.
* Malacothrix glabrata, photographed at Joshua Tree National Park.
* Desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
* Desert dandelions and desert pincushions, Joshua Tree National Park, March 30, 2005
* M. glabrata flower & hairless leaves
