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Acamptopappus	sphaeroephalus
Most asters have both ray and disk flowers but Acamptopappus above has only disk flowers. Acamptopappus means stiff pappus and sphaerocephalus means rounded head. This specimen was growing on windy, sunny west facing bluffs at 10,400 feet at Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah.
Aster	porterii Porter' Aster
Most of the old Aster genus have moved to Symphyotrichum, Greek symphyos, (growing together) and thrix (hair), referring to the hair-like flowers sim-fy-oh-TRY-kum. This aster is still called Aster in some texts. Numerous white rays and yellow disc flowers are very typical of the Astereae.
baccharis	salicina False Desert Willow
Sure looks like a willow, Saliceae, but is really an Asteraceae. Unusual in having only disc flowers. Long willow like leaves. Grows in western washes at moderate elevations. The specimen here was growing at the base of a nearly dry waterfall in No Thoroughfare Canyon in Colorado National Monument.
*Chrysothamnus or Ericamera*	nauseosus Rubber Rabbitbrush
Yellow flowers of shrubby rabbitbrush cover the roadsides in fall in the mountain west. Rabbitbrush are woody shrubs on the banks of desert arroyos and along roadside ditches throughout much of the southwest. A number of species occur, the most common being nauseosus. Only disc flowers are present. Chrysothamnus means "golden shrub". Ericamera is greek for heath like leaves.
Erigeron	divergens Spreading Erigeron
Erigerons have numerous ray flowers. Over 100 rays are not uncommon. They are often found on roadsides and in meadows over a wide altitude range. Specimens here were observed in Grand Canyon, Arizona and in the Jemez mountains West of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Grindelia	squarrosa Curleycup Gumweed
Grindellia's are the sitcky gumweeds. The flower sides are covered with a sticky resin. Gumweeds are common in disturbed ground by roadsides and parking lots. Specimens like this are observed in parking lots in Buena Vista, Colorado and throughout New Mexico.
Gutierrezia	sarothrae Snakeweed
Snakeweeds are low shrubs with fairly small yellow flowers. They do indeed grow where one might expect to find snakes. Found in open, sunny slopes in many areas of the west.
Heterotheca	villosa Hairy Golden Aster
Hairy Golden Aster is an extremely common rather weedy species found along arroyos, roadsides, and parking lots throughout the southwest. It likes rather scruffy areas near roadside where the ground is rocky and disturbed.
Leucanthum	vulgare Ox Eye Daisy
Oxy Eye Daisy grows around stockyards and in waste ground. It is a rather rough plant. The species here was found near Rampart Reservoir near Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Macheranthera	canescens
Machaeranthera are rather weedy plants with purple ray and yellow disc flowers. A number of species are found in disturbed ground, along roadsides, and adajacent to fence rows at 4,000 to 10,000 foot elevations. Machaeranthera means "sword anther".
Monoptillon	bellioides Desert Star
Desert Star grows in sandy or gravel soils in Eastern California deserts. The species above was photographed in Mud Canyon in Death Valley, California in March, 2007.
Pyrrocoma	crocea Curley Goldenweed
Curley Goldenweed grows in subalpine meadows. This specimen was photographed in meadows at 9,500 feet near Gothic, Colorado.
Solidago	multiradiata
The Genus Solidago emcompasses the Goldenrods. Goldenrods have inflorescences of many small yellow flowers. They grow in meadows at many elevations.
Symphyotrichum	pansum Prairie Aster
The Genus Symphyotrichum includes many asters with typically white rays and yellow disc flowers.
Tonestus	lyalii Alpine Goldenweed
Alpine Goldenweed grows at subalpine elevations. The above specimen was growing in meadows along the Continental Divide Trail north of Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Xylorhiza	venusta Woody Aster
Xylorhiza means woody root. The specimen here was growing along the south Bright Angel Trail in Grand Canyon, Arizona.