Hymenoxys texana

Hymenoxys texana is a rare species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names prairie dawn, Texas prairie dawn-flower, and Texas bitterweed. It is endemic to Texas, where it is found primarily in the general vicinity of Houston. It is threatened by the loss of its habitat. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. Hymenoxys texana is an annual herb with delicate reddish or purplish stems growing only 10 or 15 centimeters (4-6 inches) tall. The leaves have rubbery, glandular blades which may be simple or divided into lobes, particularly at mid-stem. The inflorescence is a solitary flower head or an open cluster of several heads. Each head is under a centimeter wide and has 6 to 8 yellow ray florets each 2 or 3 millimeters long. The ray florets are often tucked behind the phyllaries. The center of the head has 30–75 tiny disc florets. Hymenoxys texana grows primarily in two ecoregions: the grasslands of the Western Gulf Coastal Plain and in t......read more on Wikipedia.