Description
Dwarf Goldenweed is a low shrub with rigid, intricately branched stems that are up to 3 dm high. The spreading, alternate, entire-margined leaves are linear to narrowly lance-shaped, 10-15 mm long, and occur on the upper half of the stems. Clusters of much smaller leaves are borne in principal leaf axils. The stems and foliage are resinous. Few to several flower heads are borne on short stalks on the stem tips. Each head is 6-9 mm high and has 4-6 overlapping series of straw-colored, narrow involucral bracts with pointed green tips. The 3-10 yellow rays are 2-4 mm long, while the 4-10 yellow disk flowers are 4-7 mm long. The elongate achenes are glabrous to short-hairy and topped by numerous, white to tan bristles, forming a pappus of unequal length.
Diagnostic Characteristics
The narrow leaves and varnished appearing foliage separate this species from other shrubby HAPLOPAPPUS in our area. Species of CHRYSOTHAMNUS either have larger leaves or stems closely covered with dense, white hair.