From early spring to first frost, these common and widespread, erect, 5–24-inch tall plants with grayish, hairy leaves bloom with dense, round clusters of white flowers. Note the spectacle-like pairs of seeds that line the growing stem below the flower head.

FLOWERS: February–October. Dense, round-topped clusters on the stem tips, flowers white with 4 rounded petals 3/16–5/16-inch long (4–7 mm); fruit distinctive twin round disks joined like eyeglasses, each disk about 1/4-inch wide (6 mm); the fruit stem (pedicel) 3/8–1/2-inch long (8-14 mm) continues to grow as seeds ripen.

LEAVES: Basal, alternate on stem; blades hairy, grayish-green. Basal and lower leaves linear to lance-shaped, 1 1/4–2 2/4-inches long (3–7 cm), margins with coarse teeth or pinnate lobes along midrib; upper leaves linear to lance-shaped with entire to wavy margins.

HABITAT: Loose sand, dunes, gravelly soils, disturbed areas; desert scrublands, pinyon-juniper woodlands.

ELEVATION: 3,300–7,600 feet.

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

SIMILAR SPECIES: Palmer’s Spectacle Pod, D. candicans (see photo below), in eastern NM, has larger seed disks, 3/8-inch (8–10 mm) diameter.

NM COUNTIES: Statewide, except extreme se and ne counties (Colfax, Lea, Mora, Union), in low- to mid-elevation, dry habitats.