Annual Forbs Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas
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General: Hairybeast Turtleback (Psathyrotes pilifera) is a low, rounded, blue-gray annual forb with hairy leaves. The rayless flowers are yellow. Hairybeast Turtleback is an uncommon component of desert vegetation communities on silty alkaline soils. Around Las Vegas, look for this species on the north shore of Lake Mead, the only place where I know it grows. Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae). Other Names: Piliferous turtleback, hairy-beast turtleback, hairybeast brittlestem. |
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Plant Form: Low, mounded annual; densely branched with dense leaves. Height: Usually about 6 inches. Stems: Short. Leaves: alternate, hairy; blade oval with a pointed tip, entire, long hairs. Flowers: Inflorescence: discoid (rayless) heads, arising from leaf axils. Flowers many per bundle, tubular, yellow. |
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Seeds: Achene. Habitat: Silty alkaline desert flats. Elevation: About 1,000 to 6,000 ft. Distribution: Clark County Nevada, southern Utah, and northern Arizona. Comments: |
 Two hairy beasts duke it out in the desert! |
 Long hairs on leaves |
 Yellow, rayless sunflowers (a sunflower without "petals") |
 Very long hairs on the leaves |
Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
; Last updated 211224
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