Slender Cottonweed,  Micropus californicus

Midseason bloomer.  Aster (Sunflower) family.  Low growing plant with grayish fuzzy flowers in heads.  Flowers look like tips of cotton swabs.  Tends to grow in masses.

No USDA classification was found for this plant under the above name, but it was found at Calflora with this name at link, where its new name is given as Bombycilaena californica.  With this name USDA gives:

Click on the species name below to go to USDA for this plant.

Kingdom Plantae -- Plants
    Subkingdom Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants
        Superdivision Spermatophyta -- Seed plants
            Division Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants
                Class Magnoliopsida -- Dicotyledons
                    Subclass Asteridae
                        Order Asterales
                            Family Asteraceae -- Aster family
                                Genus Bombycilaena DC. P
                                    Species Bombycilaena californica (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Holub 
                                    -- false cottonseed

Slender Cottonweed,  Micropus californicus