The multiple flowering stems, 12–18 inches tall, from a basal cluster of densely woolly, silvery leaves and dramatic yellow flowers make this one of the showiest plants in the desert. Note the fuzzy-woolly phyllaries beneath the flower head, and the woolly, lobed leaves.

FLOWERS: March–November. Yellow, showy, one bloom on each stem, rays stacked in several rows around disk; 35–60 petal–like ray flowers 3/8–3/4 inch (10–20 mm) long, tip with three notches; yellow central disk.

LEAVES: Basal, alternate on stem. The rosette has densely woolly leaves to 4-inches (10 cm) long with deeply divided lobes. Stem leaves smaller.

HABITAT: Sandy, gravelly, loamy soils, roadsides; desert grasslands and scrub, pinion-juniper woodlands.

ELEVATION: 3,000–7,000 feet.

RANGE: AZ , CA , NV , NM , TX , UT.

SIMILAR SPECIES: The numerous ray flowers, single flower heads on unbranched stems, and woolly, lobed leaves help distinguish this species.

NM COUNTIES: Southern half of NM in low- to mid-elevation, arid habitats: Bernalillo, Catron, Cibola, Chaves, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Los Alamos, Luna, Otero, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Torrance, Valencia.