Common names: JIMMYWEED, RAYLESS-GOLDENROD, GOLDENBUSH, GOLDENWEED Arizona desert: (Aplopappus lacrifolius). Yellow. August-November. California desert: (Aplopappus gracilis). Yellow. February-November. Texas-New Mexico desert: (Aplopappus heterophyllus). Yellow. June-September. Sunflower family. Size: Herbs or small shrubs 2 to 18 inches.
The genus Aplopappus (sometimes spelled Haplopappus) is represented in the Southwest by a great many species, both annuals and perennials, which range from elevations of 2,000 feet up to 9,000 feet. Desert forms prefer open, dry canyon slopes and mesas.
A. linearifolius is conspicuous in the springtime, at elevations between 3,000 and 5,000 feet because of its many, showy flower heads.
A. heterophyllus often takes over heavily grazed rangeland since it is generally unpalatable to livestock and replaces vegetation destroyed by overgrazing.
YELLOW
Psilostrophe cooperi
Common name: PAPERFLOWER Arizona and Texas deserts: (Psilostrophe cooperi). Bright yellow. Year around. Texas-New Mexico deserts: (Psilostrophe sparsiflora). Bright yellow. May-September. Sunflower family. Size: Rounded bush 12 to 18 inches high.
One man of the writer’s acquaintance, confused by the great number of yellow flowers on the desert, refers to them all as “yellow composites.” The Paperflower is one of these.
It is noticeable because of the conspicuous, bright yellow flowers which sometimes cover the plants almost completely, often during periods of the year when bloom is quite scarce on the desert.