| Malacothrix coulteri | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Malacothrix |
| Species: | M. coulteri |
| Binomial name | |
| Malacothrix coulteri | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Malacothrix coulteri is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae . [1] [2] It is known by the common name snake's head or snake's head desert-dandelion.
It is an annual herb producing a waxy, upright flowering stem up to 10–50 centimetres (4–19+1⁄2 in) in height. [3] The leaves are 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long, mostly located near the base of the stem, [3] and are toothed or not. The inflorescence is an array of flower heads about 3–5 cm (1+1⁄4–2 in) wide, [3] with nearly spherical involucres of scale-like phyllaries 1–2 cm (1⁄2–3⁄4 in) wide. The bracts are green, often with dark striping or marking. The yellow or white ray florets are about 1 cm long.
Similar species include Anisocoma acaulis and Calycoseris parryi . [3]
It is native to the southwestern United States, and it is also an introduced species in southern South America. [4] Its native habitat includes desert, grassland, chaparral, and other open, sandy areas.
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