Fetid Marigold

Dyssodia papposa (Vent.) A.S. Hitchc.

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

▲ ▼ young plants

▲ ▼ mature, flowering plants

▲ leaves and stem

▲ ▼ flowers/inflorescences

▲ flower/inflorescence

Dyssodia papposa (Vent.) A.S. Hitchc., Fetid Marigold: (Bayer Code: DYSPA; US Code DYPA)

Native annual weed that grows 4-18 inches tall, with slender, ridged green to reddish-green stems
Leaves are opposite, triangular in outline, but deeply divided, like cultivated marigold leaves; leaves also have strong, bad odor
Flower heads are at tips of stems, with a few yellow ray flowers (petals) and yellow disk flowers
Bracts below flower are green and linear-lanceolate, with pointed tips
Prefers full sun locations in fields, pastures, rangeland, cultivated areas, non-crop areas
Leaves may be poisonous to cattle
Leaves may appear similar to some ragweeds, but strong (bad) odor of fetid marigold is different from ragweed leaf odors (“fetid" means “bad odor")