Some sources, including Arthur Cronquist of Intermountain Flora and Philip Munz, the expert California botanist, indicate that the genus name honors Christopher Encel, a 16th century botanist who published a book on oak galls in 1577; other very reputable sources indicate that the person honored is Christoph Entzelt, Lutheran clergyman who wrote a book about medicinal uses of plants in 1551.  With little more to base my judgment on, I would stay with the most reputable Cronquist and Munz.  It also is most plausible that the Latinization of the name "Encel" would produce "Encelia".  (More biographical information.)

The Flora of North America and the Synthesis now indicate that Encelia frutescens is a species of Arizona, southern California, and southern Nevada.  Encelia resinifera is found in southern Utah and Arizona.  This plant was first named Encelia resinosa by Brandegee in 1907 and renamed E. resinifera by Clark in 1998.

Leaves have a noticeable rough texture as evidenced in the photograph by the small white gland dots on the leaf surface.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Encelia resinifera