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The genus name comes from the Greek erion (which means "wool") and trichos (which means "hair"), referring to the hairs on the plants, which on Howard's Alpine Forget-Me-Not (E. howardii) of western Montana and northern Wyoming are so dense they usually hide the leaf surface.

Habitat: open sandy areas, common on plains and among juniper. Range: northeastern Arizona and northwestern New Mexico; north to southwestern Wyoming.

The feathery calyx, surrounding and carrying the tiny one-seeded fruit, is blown by the wind.

Habitat: along roadsides, fields, and other dry, open places. Range: Baja California to Arizona; north to Idaho and Washington.

Habitat: along desert washes, streams, and highways where water collects. Range: Southern California to southern Texas; south into northern Mexico.

Habitat: shady coniferous woods. Range: western Washington to northwestern California.

Habitat: open pine forests. Range: western Canada to northeastern California and southern Nevada; east to Colorado, western Texas, South Dakota, and western Montana.

The large, 3-parted leaf is unusual, like that of its only close relative, California Vanilla Leaf (A. californica), found nearer the coast, but which generally has 6-8 (rarely 12) teeth on the central leaflet.

Habitat: dry areas, in deserts and on plains.

This species, the only white-rayed Wyethia, often forms dense patches in low spots of valleys.

All species have leaves on the stem, distinguishing them from Balsamorhiza, which has all leaves at the base.

This plant, common on disturbed ground and sometimes coloring acres of miles of roadside solid yellow, was used by Indians and early settlers to treat skin ailments.

Trixis, from the Greek word meaning "threefold", refers to the 3-cleft corolla.

Trichoptilium comes from the Greek words that mean "hair" and "feather", referring to the fruit tip's dissected scales.

In the Mediterranean, Salsify has been cultivated for 2,000 years for the edible root, which has a flavor resembling that of an oyster or of an artichoke. When a stalk bearing a bud is picked, milky sap oozes over the hollow cut end.

Habitat: roadsides, old lots, and fields.

The several species of Townsendia are distinguished from the numerous, rather similar ones in Erigeron by the fine slender bristles atop the fruit.

The popular name comes from dent de lion, French for "lion's tooth", referring to the teeth on the leaves. The young leaves may be used in salads and soups; wine is made from the heads. Several species, some native to high mountain meadows, are similar to the Common Dandelion but may have reddish-brown fruits and outer graders that do not curl.

Habitat: sand dunes along the Pacific Coast. Range: British Columbia to Northern California.

Habitat: coastal sand dunes and open mountain slopes and valleys. Range: across Canada south to the coast of central California, and in mountains to Arizona and New Mexico; also in the eastern United States.