| Yellow Pincushion |
| Chaenactis glabriuscula |
| Family: Asteraceae (Aster) |
| Flowers — color: yellow, size: 3/4", type: daisy (complex) |
Yellow Pincushion has a daisy flower about 3/4" diameter. This fantastic flower deserves a closer look. On first glance, the flowerhead has dozens of small rays. On second look, a dozen bright yellow petals have two notches that make three lobes. Third time, the ray floret is tubular, with three larger lower petals and two smaller upper petals almost hidden are covered by disk florets. Finally, this flowerhead contains only disk florets that bloom sequentially inwards. The larger outer rows of disk florets bloom and express their petals before the inner ones. The inner disk florets have five petals and an extended yellow pistil with lighter stigma. The flowerhead becomes a seed cluster resembling dandelions, dispersing seeds to the wind.
Habit:
Yellow Pincushion is an annual with a basal rosette of leaves. These leaves have withered by mid-May, the middle of the blooming season. Several flower stems extend 6–24 inches above the base. The common name refers to the hemispherical shape of the flowerhead in full bloom.
Observations:
I found these on a blooming hillside south of Burton Mesa Rd.