Desert Sunflower

This small flower grows up to 1 inch (3 cm) tall. Its gray-green stems grow in bunches of 8 and are thin and straight, and the miniature, yellow leaves are light caramel or turquoise on the underside and are stiff, pointed with jagged edges. Many leaves grow at the base of the stem, and more leaves grow in pairs along the length of the stem.

Two giant flowers sit at the end of the stem. The flowers are 1 cm (0.4 inches) wide, with cyan petals and a cream central disk. The flower head is shaped like a sphere made up of dozens of tightly layered, round-tipped petals. They are very delicate.

It has a powerful scent that smells like misty mornings, and it has a fair amount of pollen. It is pollinated by the wind, but is enjoyed by several specific types of insect.