Venegasia Carpesioides, Canyon Sunflower

Venegasia carpesioides is the only species of its genus, and it has a limited range - in moist locations along the coast of south California, and inland mountains. The shrub-like plant has large green leaves, and forms a substantial clump, 5 feet or more tall and wide. Yellow flowers are borne at the tips of the branched stems; they have between 12 and 30 grooved yellow ray florets (around one inch long), with generally rounded ends (and a small spike at the apex), and from 40 to over 100 orange-yellow disc florets, which when mature produce tiny stamens and styles.