Clinging Sunflower

This modest-sized flower grows up to 9 inches (23 cm) tall. Its slate stems grow from the base of the plant in bunches of 5 and are wispy and straight, and split into dozens of branching stems at the base, and the huge, yellow leaves are very narrow and elongated with toothed edges. Many leaves grow at the base of the stem, and more leaves alternate on the stem from about halfway up, up to the flower head.

A single tiny flower sits at the end of the stem. The flowers are 29 cm (11.4 inches) wide, with solid grey petals and a brown central disk. The flower head is largely flat with many widely spaced narrow petals. They are sturdy.

It has an overpowering scent that smells like a damp log, and it has copious amounts of pollen; it does not cause many allergic reactions. It is pollinated by the wind, but is also particularly attractive to insects.