desert star; Mojave desertstar
Monoptilon bellioides

 

 

 

 

rock daisy; Emory’s rockdaisy
Perityle emoryi

 

 

 

 

woolly daisy; easterbonnets
Eriophyllum wallacei
(formerly Antheropeas wallacei)

 

 

false woolly daisy; yellowray Fremont’s gold
Syntrichopappus fremontii

 

 

These four Death Valley belly flowers are in the Asteraceae, of course. All are native to the desert Southwest. All are itty-bitty (note the penny in the first photo above).

I found desert star to be especially charming.

 

young blossoms just opening

 

 

 

mature blossom

 

 

 

 

rock daisy is about the size of a pinky-nail

 

 

 

woolly daisy is about the same size

 

 

 

 

yellowray Fremont’s-gold is a smidge larger (that’s a forefinger nail)

 

 

And a special bonus bellyflower: can you see the purple blossom in the upper right of the above photo? The whole thing is about the size of one of the yellow rays. It’s called salt sandspurry (Spergularia salina; Caryophyllaceae). I didn’t even know it was there until I looked at the picture!