Deiandra arida (formerly Hemizonia arida),[1] also called Red Rock tarplant, is a rare California annual plant in the family Asteraceae.[2]
Deiandra arida occurs on clay and volcanic soils and in desert dry wash from 1,000-3,000 feet (300–900 m) in elevation.[2] It is known from only 10 sites in the Red Rock Canyon State Park area of the Mojave Desert in Kern County, California.[2] [3] [4]
It is a branched annual growing from 1' to 3' (30–90 cm) tall.[2]
Lower leaves are inversely lanceolate and hairless, with toothed margins.[2] Upper leaves are without teeth (entire) at the outside edge, and are covered in sparse, short, stiff hairs, giving it a bristly feel.[2]
Flower heads grow in flat-topped clusters at the tops of stems.[2] Flower heads have 18-25 yellow disk flowers, with 5-10 yellow ray flowers. Bristly phyllaries halfway enclose the akenes.[2]