Common Yellow Chaenactis

In general, Chaenactis glabriuscula is an annual herb producing one or more mainly erect stems approaching 50 cm (20 inches) in maximum height. The branching stems are hairy and often cobwebby with fibers. The leaves are up to about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long, sometimes fleshy, and usually divided into many very small, curling lobes. The inflorescence produces one to twenty or more flower heads on a very long, erect peduncle. The flower head is lined with flat, hairy or woolly glandular phyllaries 4.5–10 mm (0.18–0.39 in). It contains many tubular flowers in shades of gold to bright yellow, the outermost flowers large and flat-faced, most with protruding anthers. The fruit is an achene which may be over a centimeter long including its layered pappus of scales.

Varieties Chaenactis glabriuscula var. glabriuscula - from Tehama Co to Baja California Chaenactis glabriuscula var. heterocarpha (Torr. & A.Gray ex A.Gray) H.M.Hall - from Shasta Co to Ventura Co plus a few in Modoc Co + San Bernardino Co Chaenactis glabriuscula var. lanosa (DC.) H.M.Hall - from Fresno Co to San Diego Co Chaenactis glabriuscula var. megacephala A.Gray - from Shasta Co to Orange Co Chaenactis glabriuscula var. orcuttiana (Greene) H.M.Hall - coast from Ventura Co to Baja California One variety, Chaenactis glabriuscula var. …

Chaenactis glabriuscula grows in a wide variety of habitats, such as the Sierra Nevada, the Mojave and Colorado Deserts, and the interior chaparral and woodlands, coastal sage and chaparral, and the montane chaparral and woodlands ecoregions. It is a variable plant, especially across varieties, of which there are many. It is generally found below 7,000 feet (2,100 m) elevation.