About Osmadenia tenella Nutt.
Osmadenia tenella Nutt. is a hairy, glandular, aromatic annual herb. It grows an erect stem that reaches a maximum height of about 40 centimeters (16 inches), and bears threadlike branches. Its linear leaves are arranged alternately; the largest leaves, located low on the plant, grow up to 5 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a cyme made up of several flower heads. Each head contains 3 to 5 three-lobed ray florets, which are white or pink-tinged and often have a pink spot, plus several narrower disc florets. Its fruit is an achene, and achenes that develop from disc florets have pappi. This species is native to coastal plains, and the hills and canyons of the Transverse Ranges in Southern California, as well as the Peninsular Ranges in Southern California and Baja California. It is an uncommon component of the local flora in habitats including the coastal sage and chaparral, and montane chaparral and woodlands sub-ecoregions.
