Part of the sunflower family (Mutisiodeae subfamily). For complex groups like the composites, botanists have inserted a variety of intermediate levels between family and genus: subfamily, super-tribe (used rarely), tribe, and sub-tribe. I've opted to break composites to the subfamily and sometimes (not here) the super-tribe level. Mutisiodeae is a mostly South American sub-family. I know of only three Californians in this subfamily, in the genera Acourtia, Adenocaulon, and Trixis. I've spotted two of the three.      Previous Asteraceae gallery.