Laxflower facts for kids

Baileya pauciradiata is a North American species of flowering plant in the daisy family which is known by the common names laxflower and Colorado desert marigold. It is native to the deserts of northwestern Mexico and the Southwestern United States. It has been found in the States of California, Arizona, Nevada, Baja California, and Sonora.

Description

Baileya pauciradiata is an annual or perennial herb with a gray-green downy stem branching to heights between 10 and 50 centimeters. The leaves are linear or lance-shaped and measure 4 to 14 centimeters long. Those at the base of the plant wither while those along the stem generally remain as the plant flowers.

The inflorescence is composed of 2 or 3 flower heads. Each has a few three-lobed yellow ray florets around a center of yellow disc florets. The fruit is a club-shaped achene about half a centimeter long.

Food source

This plant is the main food source for the sand dune dwelling moth Schinia pallicincta.