Desert Dandelion
Malacothrix glabrata
Family: Asteraceae, commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family
Fun Facts
The flowers of the Desert Dandelion consist entirely of yellow (sometimes white, often towards the outer edge of the flower) ray florets, with flat tips that have four small notches. The center of the flower is often reddish at the start of blooming, becoming yellow when fully mature.
Habitat
Sandy desert washed in the Mojave, Sonoran and Great Basin deserts of southern California, much of Arizona and northern Mexico. They can often be observed near Creosote bushes and Joshua Tree woodland.
Bloom Season
March-June
I have observed this wildflower in 2023 in the following Southern California desert areas:
Joshua Tree National Park, Cottonwood area (March 2023)
Whitewater Preserve (March 2023)
Coachella Valley Preserve (March 2023)
Sources
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/58029-Malacothrix-glabrata
https://www.desertusa.com/flowers/desert-dandelion.html
https://www.americansouthwest.net/plants/wildflowers/malacothrix-glabrata.html