The heads of this ligulate composite, when in fruit, take on a globular form reminiscent of a spherical fireworks display. The many elongate fruits (technically, 'cypselae') radiate outward from their points of attachment to the receptable; and at the apex of each cypsela is a tuft of 5 (rarely 4) pappus parts...consisting of a membranous lower part (the 'scale') and a narrow, apical bristle (the 'arista'). The pappus serves as a dispersal mechanism, catching the wind or passing animals, and often transporting the fruit to a location away from the parent plant.

If you scrutinize the full-size image, you'll see many flower head buds 'nodding' (= dangling downwards). At full-size one can also see that the pappus scales are fairly long (roughly near-equal in length to the cypsela and arista)...which indicates subspecies douglasii.