SUNSHINE. DESERT SUNFLOWER (Encelia eriocephala, 

 Gray). Flower heads golden yellow, about l inches in 

 diameter, the base and margins of the green involucral bracts 

 conspicuously white with long hairs; heads single or panicled 

 at the tips of the stems. Leaves ovate or lance-shaped, 1 to 

 3 inches long, alternate, most abundant toward the base of 

 the plant, which is a rather hairy, herbaceous annual from a 

 few inches to 2 feet high, or sometimes higher. Blooming in 

 spring in the sands of the California desert region, eastward 

 to Nevada and Arizona. 



Even the most hurried travelers in spring across the open 

 desert by train or motor car can hardly fail to be attracted 

 by the sight of this charming flower. Its blossoms of lively 

 yellow in favorable seasons make sheets of solid color over 

 the wastes, quite justifying the pretty common name Sun- 

 shine applied to it in some localities. The botanical name 

 for the genus was given in honor of an old-time botanist, 

 Christopher Encel. There is a doubt with some botanists 

 about the propriety of including this species Sunshine in En- 

 celia, and by such it is called Gerdea canescens, T. & G. 



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