General: Netvein Goldeneye (Viguiera reticulata) is a rounded, upright shrub with yellow sunflowers that stand on stalks held above the leafy mass. The leaves are opposite with a rounded base and pointed tip; have three major veins that start from the base of the leaf; and have a prominent network of veins on the underside. The leaves are hairy: the upper surface is sparse hairy, while the undersurface is lightly covered with wooly hairs.

Netvein Goldeneye is an uncommon component of vegetation communities on well-drained sandy, gravelly, and rocky soils in washes and on upper bajadas and into the lower mountains in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zone.

Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae).

Other Names: desert sunflower.

Plant Form: Upright, spreading shrub.

Height: To about 4 feet.

Bark:

Stems: Many emerging from base of shrub; generally upright.

Leaves: Oblong with rounded base and pointed tip, to 3-inches long. Three major veins from base of leaf. Underside of the leaf shows a prominent network of veins. Leaves hairy: upper surface sparse hairy; undersurface sparse tomentose. Petiole short.

Flowers: Blooms summer through fall. Inflorescence: flowerhead (cyme) with few flowers on a long, naked stem. Flowerhead yellow with disk and ray flowers.

Seeds: Fruit: Small brown nutlet.

Habitat: Dry, well-drained sandy, gravelly, and rocky soils on upper bajadas and moderate slopes in the lower mountains.

Elevation: About 0 to 3,000 feet.

Distribution: Mojave Desert region (California and Nevada).

Comments: This species is not very common.