Leaves: Green; blade shape variable, lanceolate; leaf tips pointed; leaf edges (margins) toothed or lobed; leaves dotted with resinglands.
Flower Color: Yellow changing to reddish-pink with maturity; large and showy; flower heads singles (solitary); heads with diskflorets only; bracts surrounding heads are lanceolate, outer surfaces woolly as shown in photo above; fruit is a cypsela with a pappus of straight stiff hairs (bristles).
Flowering Season: January to February to May or year-round with sufficient rainfall.
Elevation: Generally up to 2,500 feet (762 m) or more, 5,000 feet (1,524 m) in California.
Habitat Preferences: Sandy or gravelly soils, dry slopes, mesas and plains; often in Creosote-bush or desert communities.
Recorded Range: Yellowdome is found in the southwestern United States centered around the states of AZ, CA, NV. In Arizona it is found mostly in the western ½, central and southwestern parts of the state; in California it is found in the southeastern parts of the state and in Nevada it is found in the southeastern parts of the state. It is also native throughout Baja California and northwestern Mexico (Sonora).
Genus Information: In North America there are 1 species and 1 accepted taxa overall for Trichoptilium. Worldwide, The Plant List includes 1 accepted species names and a further 0 scientific names of infraspecific rank for Trichoptilium.
In the Southwestern United States this is 1 species of Trichoptilium, which is a monotypic species. Data approximate, subject to revision.
Comments:Trichoptilium incisum is a slightly fragrant low growing plant that, because of its whitish and wholly appearance it superficially resembles Desert Marigold, Baileya multiradiata.
Trichoptilium incisum has large and showy attractive flowers, the flowers and their seeds may be visited by hummingbirds and/or small mammals including rodents and granivorous birds in search of nectar or food.
Beneficial Value to Butterflies, Honey Bees and Insects
Trichoptilium incisum has large and showy attractive flowers, the flowers and their plants may be visited by butterflies, moths, flies, honeybees, Native Bees and other insects in search of food and nectar.
Etymology:
The genus “Trichoptilium” (Trichoptil'ium:) is from the Greek trichos, "hair," and ptilon, "feather," in allusion to the dissected pappus-paleae, i.e. the chafflike scales on the receptacle.
