Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Roadsides, fields, ditches, meadows, wastelots, and other disturbed open areas at low elevations.

Flowers: May-October

Origin: Introduced from the Mediterranean region

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, flies, beetles, wasps

Annual or winter-annual, 2-12 dm. tall.

Leaves narrow, often linear, mostly entire, or the lower ones sometimes shallowly toothed or lobed, up to 13 cm. long and 1 cm. wide, excluding the lobes.

Heads terminating the branches; involucre 11-16 mm. high, its bracts with a narrow, dark lacerate fringe near the tip; flowers usually blue, but may be white, pink, or purple, the marginal ones with enlarged, irregular corollas; pappus bristles 2-3 mm. long; receptacle densely bristly.