General: Threadleaf Snakeweed (Gutierrezia microcephala) is a small shrub with thread-like leaves and small yellow flowers. From the base, the plant grows with many upright branches. The lower branches are densely covered with tiny, linear, dark green leaves. The end of the branches have a few, thread-like leaves. Most leaves are dried by flowering time. Each branch ends with a cluster of flowerheads with tiny yellow flowers that bloom in summer and fall. Each tiny flowerhead is made up of 1-2 ray flowers (the "petals") and 1-2 disk flowers. The involucres are cylindrical.

Vegetatively, Threadleaf Snakeweed is almost identical to Matchweed (aka Broom Snakeweed), but when blooming, Threadleaf has 1-2 "petals" per flowerhead, while Matchweed has several. Hence, the two species can only be identified with certainty in full flower.

Threadleaf Snakeweed is a fairly common component of vegetation communities in dry, well-drained gravelly areas on bajadas into the lower mountains in the Lower Sonoran (Creosote-Bursage Flats) and Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) life zones.

Around Las Vegas, look for Threadleaf Snakeweed at Red Rock Canyon and in the Sheep Range.

Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae). Also called Sticky Snake Weed and Small-headed Matchweed.

Flowers: Blooms in summer and fall. Each tiny flowerhead is usually made up of 3-4 flowers. Of these, there will be 1-2 ray flowers (the "petals") and 2-3 disk flowers. The involucres (structures that hold the flowers together) are cylindrical. Style with two appendages.