# Clustered Tarweed

*Deinandra fasciculata*

The 'tar' is actually a fragrant resin that helps the plant retain moisture and deters thirsty insects during the harsh, dry Mediterranean summers.

- **Taxonomy:** Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Asterales › Asteraceae › Deinandra
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and grassy valleys.
- **Diet:** Photosynthetic (Sunlight, Water, CO2)
- **Range:** California, Baja California
- **Size:** 10 to 100 centimeters tall
- **Lifespan:** 1 year (Annual)
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Urban development, invasive non-native grasses, and habitat fragmentation.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless. This plant is covered in a sticky, fragrant resin that may cling to clothing and skin. It is safe to observe closely, but avoid contact to prevent staining or a tacky residue.

## About

Deinandra fasciculata (syn: Hemizonia fasciculata ), known by the common names clustered tarweed and fascicled spikeweed , is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family native to western North America.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/19e5b4cd-2460-446b-becd-dd6fcce4449c
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/58819
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinandra fasciculata
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/41027103/medium.jpeg (Zack Abbey, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.