Names and Taxonomy
- Common Names: Gravel Ghost, tobacco weed, parachute plant
- Synonyms: Malacothrix platyphylla
- Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower)
- Genus Information:
Atrichoseris platyphylla
Gravel Ghost
The gravel ghost is a desert plant, scientifically known as Atrichoseris platyphylla, that gets its name from its tall, thin stems and white, floating flowers that appear ghostly against the desert landscape. It is an annual herb native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, with a basal rosette of gray-green leaves and fragrant, white or pink-tinged flowers. The scientific name means the flat-leaved (platyphylla) chicory plant without hairs (Atrichoseris), referring to the absence of hairs on the fruit.
