ASTERACEAE

Simsia calva

Common Name:  Awnless Bush Sunflower

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head--do you see the two types of florets present in this head?  Also, notice how widely spaced the disk florets are. old head (foreground) and young head (background)

head with peduncle--Simsia calva is closely related to Wedelia texana.  Both species have long peduncles, stems and leaves covered with coarse, short hairs (the leaves feel like sandpaper), and a number of other characteristics.  So, how do you tell the two apart?  One easy way is by the differing corolla colors (see the page for Wedelia).  Another way is by the leaves... ...which are sometimes perfoliate in Simsia (meaning the leaf bases have grown together, as you see here).

 
habit--Simsia calva is a low shrub with very brittle wood (again, just like Wedelia)