Annuals, 12-30 cm . Stems glabrous. Leaves: basal sometimes persistent, proximal usually absent at flowering; cauline blades 1-nerved, narrowly elliptic-oblanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, 1-2 mm wide, reduced distally. Heads borne singly or in loose, open arrays. Involucres campanulate, 4-7 mm diam. Phyllary apices flat. Ray florets 8-15; corollas white, drying light yellow or reddish, 6-7.5 mm. Disc florets (16-)20-30(-40). Cypselae 0.9-1.6 mm, faces without oil cavities, densely strigoso-sericeous (hair apices prominently bulbous-capitate); pappi coroniform or of 1 series of basally connate scales 0.1-0.3 mm (obscured by cypsela indument). 2n = 8.
Flowering (Feb-)Mar-May. Sandy or sandy-rocky plains or washes; 200-1300 m; Ariz.; Mexico (Sonora).
FNA 2006, Felger 2000
Duration: Annual Nativity: Native Lifeform: Subshrub General: Annual, 12-30 cm with herbaceous, green stems, erect to ascending, stems glabrous or minutely scabrous. Leaves: Alternate, cauline, gland-dotted, single-nerved, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, basal leaves sometimes persistent, uppermost usually absent at flowering. Flowers: Heads borne singly or in loose, open arrays with campanulate involucres, involucres often gland-dotted, 4-7 mm diameter. Rays 8-15 with white corollas that dry yellow or reddish, discs yellow, 20-30. Fruits: Cypselae densely strigose with hair apices bulbous, pappi in single series. Ecology: Found in sandy plains or washes from 500-4,500 ft (152-1372 m); flowers March-May. Distribution: c and s AZ; south to n Mex. Notes: Distinguished by being sticky, linear leaves, scarious-margined phyllaries, Differentiate from other species in the genus by being an annual; also from G. sarothrae by the 4-7 mm diameter involucre, (G. sarothrae has an involucre 1.5-2 mm, and also from G. microcephala which has an involucre 1-1.5 mm). Ethnobotany: Specific use of species unknown, but uses for the genus include an infusion of the plant taken as a ceremonial emetic and to treat digestive disorders. Etymology: Gutierrezia is named for Pedro Gutierrez (Rodriguez), a 19th century Spanish noblemen and botanist, arizonica means of or from Arizona. Synonyms: None Editor: LCrumbacher 2011, FSCoburn 2015
