Identification
This native annual spreads and grows up to 18 inches tall. The leaves are parted into numerous skeleton-like lobes (B), which are dotted with tiny orange oil glands (A,C). The flowers, with up to 8 orange, petal-like ray florets, open part way to about 1/4 inch across.
Found along roads and ditches and inhospitable places like parking lots and sidewalk cracks, flowering in August and September. In Fontenelle Forest, locally common along Camp Gifford Road. This inconspicuous plant has been seen at Neale Woods, but it has not been documented recently.
Dinsmore indicates the Omaha-Ponca called this plant “vile weed,” referring to its fetid odor. They snuffed the pulverized leaves and flower tops up their nostrils to cause nosebleeds, which was believed to relieve headaches. He also states that the “Teton Dakota say that this plant is always found in prairie-dog towns and that these animals eat it.”
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Roland Barth.