Townsendia annua
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Semi-desert, foothills. Woodlands, openings. Spring.

This lovely miniature is abundant on hot dry hills and can occur singly or in very extensive patches.  It is only an inch or two high with single, large flower heads.  Leaf and stem are hairy and last year's dry basal leaves can be present at blooming time.

The genus Townsendia was named by William Jackson Hooker in 1833 for David Townsend, a West Chester, Pennsylvania resident who was active in civic affairs and botany.  Townsend supplied Hooker with about 600 specimens from Chester County and Hooker called this collection the finest he had ever received.