Rarely considered beautiful, the groundsels are common and widespread,
and are readily recognized by the untidy appearance of the large flowers
which are sometimes almost 2 inches in diameter. The rather delicate,
stringy foliage is sometimes covered with cottony threads. One species
is called “ragwort.” Douglas groundsel is a shrubby plant sometimes as
much as 3 feet high, common in sandy washes and on dry foothill slopes.
It occurs from southern Utah and Arizona to California and Mexico,
between 1,000 and 6,000 feet. At lower elevations these plants bloom at
almost any time of year.
_Senecio douglasii_ Sunflower Family
[Illustration: DOUGLAS GROUNDSEL]