Machaeranthera tanacetifolia

Machaeranthera tanacetifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names tansyleaf tansyaster and Tahoka daisy.

Machaeranthera tanacetifolia
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Machaeranthera
Species:	M. tanacetifolia
Binomial name
Machaeranthera tanacetifolia (Kunth) Nees
Synonyms
Machaeranthera coronopifolia Machaeranthera parthenium

Description

M. tanacetifolia is an annual or biennial herb growing one or more branching stems up to about 10–40 centimetres (4–15+1⁄2 inches) in height.^[1] The multilobed leaves are up to 5–12.5 cm (2–5 in) long.^[1] Between May and September,^[1] an inflorescence bears one or more flower heads lined with spreading or curling, pointed phyllaries. The head has a center of many yellow disc florets and a fringe of many lavender to purple ray florets each 1 to 2 cm (1⁄3 to 2⁄3 in) long. The fruit is a flat achene about 1 cm long including the pappus.

It is similar to M. parviflora, the flower heads of which are smaller.^[1]

• 
  Plant before flowering
• 
  Close-up of foliage
• 
  Underside of flower
• 
  Flower gone to seed

Distribution and habitat

It is native to Alberta, the southwestern and central United States, and northern Mexico. It grows in several types of habitat, including sandy open plains and deserts.^[1]

Uses

The Zuni people use an infusion of the flowers taken with other flowers for unspecified illnesses.^[2]