Asteraceae, the daisy, sunflower, or composite family.
Description:
Plant:
Erect, branching plant, 1'-4', with coarsely toothed compound leaves, and small
yellow flowers heads surrounded by leafy bracts. Stems often pinkish or
reddish. Annual.
Flowers:
Small yellow heads, about 3/8" wide, surrounded by leafy, rather irregular,
outer involucral bracts that may be several times as long as the diameter
of the disk. The disk sometimes appears to be bordered by 5-8 tiny ray
flowers, but the head is actually considered to consist solely of disk
flowers. The petal-like structures are called "ligules" and are not
considered to arise from ray flowers.
Leaves:
Opposite, compound, with 3-5 lanceolate to narrowly ovate, coarsely toothed
leaflets, to 4" long.
Fruit:
Small "Tickseeds" that stick to hair and clothing.
Blooming:
August-October
Habitat:
Fields, weedy spots.
Comments:
The common name arises from the seeds, which somewhat resemble ticks, and
stick tightly to clothing and fur.
Where to find it:
I have found it in weedy thickets along the northeast side of the pond.