Gamochaeta sphacelata explained

Gamochaeta sphacelata, the owl's crown, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is widespread across South America, Central America, and Mexico with the distribution just barely crossing the Río Grande into western Texas.^{[1] [2]}

Gamochaeta sphacelata is an annual herb up to 50cm (20inches) tall. Leaves are long and narrow, up to 4cm (02inches) long. The plant forms many small flower heads in elongated arrays. Each head contains 3–5 purple disc flowers but no ray flowers.^[3]

Notes and References

1. http://www.guynesom.com/Gamochaetarecords.pdf Guy L. Nesom 2004. New distribution records for Gamochaeta (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae) in the United States. Sida 21(2): 1175–1185.
2. http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Gamochaeta%20sphacelata.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
3. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242427689 Flora of North America, Gamochaeta sphacelata (Kunth) Cabrera, 1961. Owl’s crown