Fine-Leaf Woollywhite, Fineleaf Hymenopappus,Hymenopappus filifolius var. cinereus,Aster Family (Asteraceae)

The Bloom Blog
Blooming this week in the environs of Abiquiú
By Wildflowers of the Southern Rocky Mountains

Found in dry, sandy, open areas
Seen blooming in June on the Espinosa Trail, Abiquiu

Fineleaf Hymenopappus is easily overlooked because it has no petal-like ray flowers and small flower heads. It is usually a woolly/hairy plant with stems branching from a rosette or mound of basal leaves. Leaves are twice-divided into narrow or thread-like leaflets which are sometimes covered in woolly hairs, giving a grey appearance. Tubular disk flowers have five lobes and range in color from very yellow to almost white. Thirteen varieties have been identified. This variety, cinerus, grows to 2½ feet high covered in dense white hair in a more rounded bushy form. Basal and stem leaflets are very finely divided. Flowers are less than ½" across and yellow. Traditionally, a poultice of the root with lard was applied to ease swellings, and a decoction of the root was taken as an emetic. The root was also used as a chewing gum, and the leaves were boiled and baked into bread. Source.
​
If you are trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flowers bloom this month. If you cannot identify a flower from the website, send a photo and where you took it to [email protected]. Read online for tips.