Helianthus deserticola Heiser

Helianthus deserticola is relatively uncommon; it is not federally listed. Abundant subsessile glands ("resin dots") on stems, leaves, phyllaries, and abaxial faces of ray laminae help to distinguish H. deserticola from H. anomalus, with which it is sometimes lumped. L. H. Rieseberg (1991) demonstrated that it is of hybrid origin; parental species are H. annuus and H. petiolaris.

Annuals, 10–40 cm. Stems (green or red) erect, densely hirsute and gland-dotted. Leaves mostly cauline; mostly alternate; petioles 1–6 cm; blades lanceolate to lance-ovate, 2.5–5 × 1–2 cm, bases cuneate, margins entire, abaxial faces hispid-hirsute, densely gland-dotted. Heads 1–5. Peduncles 1–3(–8) cm. Involucres hemispheric, 13–25 mm diam. Phyllaries 13–21, lanceolate to lance-ovate, 7–19 × 1.5–2 mm (equaling or slightly surpassing discs), (margins ciliate) apices acuminate, abaxial faces hispid (hairs erect, often 1+ mm) gland-dotted. Paleae 8–9 mm, ± 3-toothed (middle teeth equaling or slightly surpassing discs, apices yellowish brown, usually hispid). Ray florets 7–13; laminae 10–30 mm (abaxial faces gland-dotted). Disc florets 25+; corollas 5.5–6 mm, lobes reddish; anthers dark, appendages purplish (style branches reddish). Cypselae 4–5 mm, pilose; pappi usually of 2 linear scales 1.6–2.5 mm plus 4–6 linear or ovate, erose scales 0.5–1 mm. 2n = 34.

Helianthus deserticola, the desert sunflower, is a plant species native to Arizona, Nevada and Utah. It grows in dry, sun-lit locations at elevations of 400–1,500 m (1,300–4,900 ft).

Helianthus deserticola is a daughter species of the species Helianthus annuus and Helianthus petiolaris.

Helianthus deserticola is an annual herb up to 40 centimetres (16 in) tall with abundant resin dots on the foliage. Leaves are up to 5 centimetres (2.0 in) long. Flower heads contain approximately 7-13 ray flowers and more than 25 disc flowers.