4. Malacothrix fendleri A. Gray, Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. 5(6): 104. 1853.
Annuals, 3–15(–25+) cm. Stems (1–)3–8, ± decumbent or spreading-ascending, branched proximally and distally, glaucous or glabrous. Cauline leaves: proximal elliptic to oblong-oblanceolate, sometimes pinnately lobed (lobes 2–4+ pairs, oblong to triangular, unequal, apices acute), not fleshy, ultimate margins usually dentate, faces glabrous; distal reduced (narrowly triangular to linear or filiform, margins dentate or entire). Calyculi of 5–12, ovate to lanceolate bractlets, hyaline margins 0.05–0.2 mm wide. Involucres ± campanulate, 7–10 × 5–6+ mm. Phyllaries 13–25+ in 2–3 series, lance-oblong or lanceolate to lance-linear, subequal, hyaline margins 0.05–0.3 mm wide, faces glabrous. Receptacles not bristly. Florets 16–88; corollas yellow (usually with red or purplish abaxial stripes), 6–14 mm; outer ligules exserted 5–8 mm. Cypselae ± cylindric, 1.8–2.4 mm (distal 0.3 mm slightly expanded, cupped, smooth), ribs not extending to apices, ± equal; persistent pappi of 12–15, ± deltate teeth (often hidden within cups at apices of cypselae) plus 1–2 bristles. Pollen 70–100% 3-porate. 2n = 14.
Flowering Mar–Jun. Grasslands, pinyon-juniper woodlands, creosote bush associations; 80–2200 m; Ariz., N.Mex., Tex.; Mexico (Baja California, Sonora).
Malacothrix fendleri grows in the Sonoran Desert. "San Bernardino Co." as locality for a specimen from the herbarium of J. G. Lemmon in UC (336493) is evidently an error.