seaside wooly sunflower / lizard-tail
Eriophyllum staechadifolium

Family: Asteraceae.

Type: Woody plant to small shrub.

Leaves: Leaves are light green, typically with a pale underside. The name "lizard-tail" comes from the leaf shape, which looks like a lizard when viewed from underneath. Leaves are highly dissected and lobed, which decreases surface area to decrease water loss. They are also fairly thick.

Fruit & Flower: Flowers look like clusters of small yellow daisies, usually produced from fall to winter.

Miscellaneous: Found in coastal scrub, with coyote brush, California sagebrush, and so forth. It will also grow on cliff faces on the beach margin. It is not usually on the dunes.





All photos and text ©2008 Ben Haller. Permission is granted to use and reproduce these photos for any non-commercial or non-profit use as long as this original copyright notice is retained.