We saw the desert dandelion (Malacothrix californica) in many places yesterday, sometimes in profusion (especially near the Carrizo Badlands Overlook) and sometimes just a few plants. It's another member of the sunflower family (Asteraceae).The common names for this plant are interesting. The common English name that most of us know is, of course, “dandelion” – which is a corruption of the French dent de lion, or “lion's tooth”, referring to the deeply toothed leaves. The French common name, on the other hand (according to Wikipedia), is “pissenlit”, which means “urinate in bed”, referring to the plant's diuretic properties. Read the Wikipedia entry for even more...
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