Dowingia
Side view of a Downingia bicornuta var. picta flower showing the column formed by the anthers.
A vernal pool surrounded by a ring of Downingia bella
Achillea
An inflorescence of Achillea millefolium showing many, small heads of white flowers:
A leaf of Achillea millefolium that is at least three times pinnately divided:
Ambrosia chamissonis a perennial, herbaceous Ambrosia showing spikes of inconspicuous, discoid, wind-pollinated heads (The yellow flowers are something else.)
Ambrosia dumosa, a shrubby Ambrosia
Artemisia
Close up of Artemisia californica showing discoid heads of perfect, wind-pollinated flowers:
An Artemisia californica shrub:
The herbaceous Artemisia douglasiana showing wide leaves:
The narrow, green leaves of Artemisia dracunculus , tarragon:
Discoid heads of male flowers of the dioecious Baccharis pilularis, coyote brush:
A female Baccharis pilularis in fruit showing the pappus of bristles:
Male heads of Baccharis salicifolia
Carduus nutans showing spiny bracts and prickly leaves
Discoid heads of pink flowers of Carduus pycnocephalus
An achene (and involucral bracts) of Carduus tenuiflorus showing pappus of barbed bristles:
Habit of Centaurea iberica with spiny phyllaries and leaves that are not prickly:
The yellow flowers of Centaurea solstitialis
Cirsium
A discoid head of Cirsium andersonii showing flowers with narrow corolla lobes:
Cirsium cymosum showing prickly leaves:
Old heads of Cirsium eristhales showing pappus of plumose bristles (if you use your imagination):
Erigeron
Erigeron argentatus with many, narrow ray flowers:
Erigeron blochmaniae showing many, narrow, subequal phyllaries:
Heads of Eriophyllum ambiguum
var. paleaceum
Clusters of flower heads in Eriophyllum confertiflorum
Once pinnately lobed leaves of Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum
Grindelia
Immature heads of Grindelia camporum showing gumminess and many, recurved, green phyllaries:
Radiate head of yellow flowers of Grindelia hirsutula var. davyi
Grindelia hirsutula var. maritima
Lactuca
A non-flowering plant of Lactuca serriola showing prickles on midribs of leaves:
Beaked Lactuca serriola fruits:
Many Lasthenia californica individuals:
Yellow, radiate heads of Lasthenia californica
Lasthenia fremontii showing opposite leaves:
Layia
Layia carnosa showing white ray flowers and dark glands on the phyllaries and upper stems:
Layia chrysanthemoides with yellow and white ray flowers; unfortunately this species lacks glands:
Madia
Yellow, radiate heads of Madia elegans
Smaller heads of Madia glomerata showing many glands and phyllaries that enfold the ray achenes:
Madia madioides showing leaves that are opposite below and alternate above:
Microseris
Fruiting head of Microseris douglasii showing (rain-covered) pappus of awn-tipped scales:
Microseris nutans with one head per stem and heads that nod in bud:
Microseris nutans head showing yellow ligulate flowers:
Senecio
The discoid species Senecio aronicoides
The radiate species Senecio breweri
White-veined leaves of Silybum marianum
Silybum marianum achenes with pappus of bristles:
Head of Silybum marianum showing spine-tipped phyllaries and disc flowers:
Sonchus
Ligulate head of Sonchus arvensis
Involucre of Sonchus asper ssp. asper that is enlarged at the base:
Unbeaked seed of Sonchus asper ssp. asper
Wyethia
Large, yellow, radiate heads and green phyllaries of Wyethia angustifolia
Wyethia glabra showing the large basal leaves that are present in some species of Wyethia
A Wyethia helenioides head in fruit showing the chaffy receptacle:
A clump of Wyethia elata, a species that doesn't have basal leaves: