''Anisocoma acaulis'' (scale bud) is a

wildflower A wildflower (or wild flower) is a flower that grows in the wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. The term implies that the plant probably is neither a hybrid nor a selected cultivar that is in any way different from the w ...

found in the Mojave,

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s, and California's

Owens Valley Owens Valley (Numic Numic is a branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family. It includes seven languages spoken by Native American peoples traditionally living in the Great Basin, Colorado River basin, Snake River basin, and southern Great Pl ...

above (states of

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, and

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), up to about 7000 ft. It is the only known member of genus ''Anisocoma''. The plant grows a flat mat of jagged lobed leaves that lie on the ground. It sends up stalks up to 20 centimeters tall topped with flowers which bloom from April to June. The flowers may be yellow or white with yellow centers. The frilly ray florets are rectangular with flat or slightly toothed tips. This flower is found growing in colonies in sandy places and washes, and bleeds milky

sap Sap is a fluid transported in xylem cells (vessel elements or tracheids) or phloem sieve tube elements of a plant. These cells transport water and nutrients throughout the plant. Sap is distinct from latex, resin, or cell sap; it is a separa ...

if cut. The common name "scale bud" is a reference to the scaly appearance of the closed flower bud.Flora of North America ''Anisocoma acaulis'' Torrey & A. Gray
/ref> Anisocoma acaulis scale-bud flower close

Anisocoma acaulis scale-bud flower close

References

* Mojave Desert Wildflowers, Jon Mark Stewart, 1998, pg. 107 * Wildflowers of the Eastern Sierra and adjoining Mojave Desert and Great Basin. Laird R. Blackwell, 2002, pg.59 ()

External links

Calflora: ''Anisocoma acaulis'' (Scalebud)

Jepson Manual Treatment

USDA Plants Profile

UC Photos gallery
Cichorieae Flora of California Flora of Arizona Flora of Nevada Flora of the California desert regions Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Natural history of the Mojave Desert Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges Natural history of the Transverse Ranges Monotypic Asteraceae genera Taxa named by Asa Gray Taxa named by John Torrey Flora without expected TNC conservation status {{Cichorieae-stub