Malacothrix sonchoides

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Malacothrix sonchoides.jpg

|status = {{TNCStatus}}

|status_system = TNC

|status_ref =

|genus = Malacothrix (plant)

|species = sonchoides

|authority = (Nutt.) Torr. & A.Gray

}}

Malacothrix sonchoides is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names sowthistle desertdandelion[http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=MASO Malacothrix sonchoides.] USDA PLANTS. and yellow saucers.[http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Malacothrix+sonchoides Malacothrix sonchoides.] NatureServe. 2012. It is native to much of the western United States, where it grows in sandy substrates in habitat such as Joshua tree woodland, grassland, creosote bush scrub, and ephedra-blackbrush communities.[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250067156 Malacothrix sonchoides.] Flora of North America.[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Malacothrix+sonchoides Malacothrix sonchoides.] Calflora 2013.

This species is an annual herb producing one or more hairless, branching stems usually up to about 25 centimeters tall, sometimes approaching 50 centimeters. The fleshy lower leaves have several lobes, while the upper leaves are smaller and simpler. The flower heads contain up to 115 bright yellow florets each just over a centimeter long.