Flower Color: Showy pure bright white 1.5 inch (4 cm) flowers with yellow centers; flower heads with both ray and diskflorets, the rayflorets are pure white while the diskflorets constitute the yellow centers; note in the photo above the heads are surrounded by glandular hairs which may be quite sticky; the fruit is a cypsela with a pappus.
Flowering Season: February or March to June or July with sufficient rainfall.
Elevation: Up to 5,000 feet (1,524 m) or more - 7,500 feet, (2,286 m)
Habitat Preferences: Open areas in upper and lower deserts, upland habitats, grasslands, meadows, dry areas, open areas and clearings, gravelly or sandy soil.
Recorded Range: Whitedaisy Tidytips is found in the Pacific northwest and southwestern United States. The largest populations are found in Nevada where they are found statewide followed by Arizona, California and Oregon. They are also native to north and central Baja California.
North America & US County Distribution Map for Layia glandulosa.
North America species range map for Whitedaisy Tidytips, Layia glandulosa:
Click image for full size map
Genus Information: In North America there are 14 species and 14 accepted taxa overall for Layia. Worldwide, The Plant List includes 20 accepted species names and a further 39 scientific names of infraspecific rank for Layia.
The genus Layia was puplished by Hooker, William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865) and George Arnott Walker (1799-1868) in 1833.
In the Southwestern United States: Arizona and Utah each have 2 species of Layia, California has 14 species, Nevada and New Mexico each have 1 species, and Texas has 0 species. Data approximate and subject to revision.
Comments: Whitedaisy Tidytips, although found in a variety of habitats is not typically a common or abundant species. White Tidytips only blooms if there have been adequate winter rainfall. The genus Layia truly belong to California where all 14 species can be found and 12 of those species are found only in California.
Layia glandulosa daisy-like flowers, seeds and plants may be visited by hummingbirds and/or small mammals including rodents in search of food.
Layia glandulosa daisy-like brightly colored flowers and plants may be visited by butterflies, moths and other insects in search of food and nectar.
Special Value to Native Bees
According to The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Whitedaisy Tidytips, Layia glandulosa is recognized by pollination ecologists as attracting large numbers of Native bees. Click here for more information on their Pollinator Conservation Program.
Etymology:
The genus “Layia” (Lay'ia:) is named for George Tradescant Lay (1799-1845). Lay botanized on Hawaii, California and Alaska.
The genus Layia was puplished by Hooker, William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865) and George Arnott Walker (1799-1868) in 1833.
The species epithet “glandulosa” (glandulo'sa:) means “provided with glands,” referring to the secreting structures on the surface ending in hairs or other plant parts.
Ethnobotany
Layia glandulosa is used for a multitude of purposes by southwestern United States indigenous peoples.
Cahuilla Food, Porridge; Seeds ground into flour and used with other ground seeds in a mush.
Luiseno Food, Unspecified; Seeds used for food.
See complete listing of ethno-botanical uses at Native American Ethnobotany, University of Michigan, Dearborn.
