Gamochaeta americana

Annual or biennial, (6–)10–40(–65) cm high; flowering stems usually erect, occasionally ascending, usually branched only at base. Leaves rosetted at base (withering or withered at flowering), and cauline; rosette leaves elliptic-oblong to spathulate, 3–7(–10) cm long, 4–12(–16) mm wide, obtuse to acute, shortly mucronate, upper surface usually glabrous, sometimes with a few scattered cottony hairs, lower surface white to grey-white with appressed cottony hairs, margins usually flat, sometimes undulate; cauline leaves similar but distinctly subclasping (but not auriculate), often slightly decurrent, often folded and progressively smaller and relatively narrower toward (and within) inflorescence. Inflorescence usually narrowly spicate, with numerous contiguous clusters, each subtended by a small leaf, clusters c. sessile or shortly racemose. Capitula 4–4.5 mm long, innermost bracts broadly acute, sometimes nearly rounded, occasionally apiculate, entire, green, sometimes also reddish purple, in middle becoming clear toward margins; bisexual florets 3–6. Cypselas 0.5–0.6(–0.7) mm long. Flowers throughout year (mostly Dec.–Mar.).