Wyethia reticulata

Agnorhiza reticulata (syn. Wyethia reticulata), known by the common name El Dorado County mule’s ears, is a rare species of flowering plant found only in a small region of north-central California. Agnorhiza reticulata grows in the California interior chaparral and woodlands habitats of the Sierra Nevada foothills. It has been found in El Dorado, Sacramento, and Yuba Counties. Agnorhiza reticulata is a perennial herb producing a hairy, glandular, sticky-textured stem growing 15 to 28 inches tall, at times reaching 3 feet. The leaves have triangular or lance-shaped blades up to 6 inches long. The inflorescence is a usually solitary sunflowerlike flower head with up to 21 yellow ray florets measuring up to1 inch long. At the center are yellow disc florets. The flowers are pollinated by native bees. The fruit is a very small achene which usually lacks a pappus.