Simsia frutescens A. Gray in W. H. Emory, Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. 2(1): 89. 1859

Subshrubs or shrubs, 50–150 cm. Stems with slender branches from trunks, glabrous, developing fissured barks. Leaves cauline; petioles 2–7 mm; blades green, elliptic or narrowly ovate, 10–25 mm, apices obtuse, faces strigose. Heads borne singly. Peduncles strigose. Involucres 6–12 mm. Phyllaries lanceolate. Ray florets 0. Disc corollas yellow, 5–6 mm. Cypselae 6–9 mm; pappi 0 or of 2 bristlelike awns. 2n = 36.

Flowering Feb–May, Aug–Sep. Desert washes, flats, slopes, roadsides; 0–800 m; Ariz., Calif., Nev.; Mexico (Baja California, Sonora).

Plants of Encelia frutescens in the flora area are var. frutescens; var. glandulosa C. Clark, with glandular, strigose leaves, is found in northeastern Baja California and is not expected here.