SafePlants

Dicoria canescens

Dicoria canescens is a North American flowering plant belonging to the daisy family (Asteraceae). It is known by the common names desert twinbugs and bugseed.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant is an herb, so it is non-woody, which may make it more appealing to pets to consume.

Considerations for Children

• This plant is an herb, so it is non-woody, which may make it more appealing to children to consume.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Dicoria canescens A. Gray
• Family: Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
• Synonym: Dicoria brandegeei Gray
• Subspecies: Dicoria canescens subsp. brandegeei (A. Gray) Kartesz, comb. nov. ined., Dicoria canescens ssp. hispidula, Dicoria canescens ssp. wetherillii

Distribution and Habitat

• Dicoria canescens is found sporadically in deep sandy washes or along river flood plains with deep, fine soil.
• It is native to North America.
• Specific locations include the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, the Mojave Desert, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Kane County, Utah), and parts of Mexico (Baja California, Sonora).
• It grows in alkaline soils, desert washes, and flats at elevations ranging from -20 to 1700 meters.
• It is found in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Dicoria canescens is described as a forb/herb, which is a non-woody plant that is not a grass.
• It is an annual plant.

Ecological Role

• Dicoria canescens is associated with dune species such as blowout grass, rosemary-mint, mule ears, and scurfpea.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• It is associated with other plants like Abronia villosa var. villosa (Desert sand-verbena), Ambrosia dumosa, Oenothera deltoides (large-desert evening-primrose), and others.

Further Information

• Discover Life offers information about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Dicoria canescens.
• CalPhotos provides images of Dicoria canescens.