Plants 8–60 cm (self-incompatible); glandular, not strongly scented. Stems not purple-streaked. Leaf blades oblong to oblanceolate, 6–50(–80) mm, margins (basal leaves) toothed to lobed. Involucres hemispheric to depressed-hemispheric, 3.5–8(–11) × 4–10(–13) mm. Phyllaries 6–15, apices longer or shorter than folded bases. Paleae in 1 series between ray and disc florets. Ray florets 6–15; laminae white, 3–12(–19) mm. Disc florets 20–100+; corollas 2.5–5 mm; anthers yellow to brownish. Ray cypselae sparsely hairy. Disc pappi 10–13 white, lanceolate, acuminate, ± equal scales 2–3.5 mm, not plumose, not adaxially woolly (bases sparsely setose). 2n = 14.
Phenology: Flowering Mar–Apr.
Habitat: Grasslands, openings in chenopod scrub (historically), on sparsely-vegetated, clayey, subalkaline soils
Elevation: 100–400 m
Discussion
Of conservation concern.
Layia leucopappa occurs in the Comanche and Tejon hills (western Tehachapi Range). Populations of the southern San Joaquin Valley (south and east of Bakersfield) have been extirpated.
Selected References
None.