Cutleaf Ironplant

Cutleaf Iron Plant

Machaeranthera pinnatifida (Hook.) Shinners

[also known as Xanthisma spinulosum (Pursh) D.R. Morgan and R.L. Hartman, and formerly Haplopappus spinulosus (Pursh) DC ]

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

▲ plant before flowering

▲ ▼ mature, flowering plants

▲ ▼ flowering stems

Cutleaf Ironplant:

Is a simple perennial native to prairies of great plains in U.S. and grows 6-18 inches tall; some varieties form mounds of many stems arising from crown; others tend to have single or few stems from the base
Leaves are alternate, oval, with many deeply cut, narrow, sharp, bristle-tipped teeth on their margins; leaves and stems often covered with fine white hairs; whole plant has spiny texture to it
Has with bright yellow flowers with pointed, yellow ray flower “petals" and a center of yellow disk flowers; overall head inflorescence diameter of 1/3 to 1/2 inch
Stems and woody stem base/root crown very tough (hence the name, “ironplant")
Prefers dry, sandy or rocky soils