Smooth Golden Fleece

Appearance

"Urospermum dalechampii" reaches on average 25–40 centimetres of height, with a minimum height of 10 centimetres and a maximum height of 50 centimetres. This plant is quite hairy, with a single or branched stem. Basal leaves are usually arranged in a rosette of toothed leaves, while cauline leaves are just a few and smaller, more or less undivided and amplexicaul. The flowers are hermaphrodite. The flower heads are yellow sulfur, about five centimeter wide. Involucral bracts vary from seven to eight. Blooms are abundant throughout the Spring. The flowering period extends from March through August. The long, beaked fruit is an achene, and has a feathery, slightly reddish pappus

Distribution

This plant occurs in Western and Central Mediterranean from Spain to Dalmatia and North Africa.

Habitat

These plants can be found on roadsides, dry grasslands or wastelands at 0–1,200 metres above sea level. They are commonly grown in drained soil and sunny places throughout the year.