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 Leaves and flowers Sue Carnahan @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: CC BY-NC (Attribution-Non-Commercial) |  Plant Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) | | | | |
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Origin:
Native
Life Cycle:
Perennial Similar Species: A. eastwoodiana, A.peeblesii
General Desc:
Mounds of willowy leaves and wiry stems topped by star-shaped, bluish-white flowers from a woody root stock. Closely resembles root systems, stems and leaves of A. eastwoodiana (Eastwood's Bluestar) and A. peeblesii (Peebles' bluestar).
Identification notes: Several erect or ascending stems from woody root stock; milky sap; leaves alternate, hairy or hairless, narrow, dark green; flower lobes 1/8 to 1/4 inch long and less than half as long as tube; fruit a pair of elongated, round in cross section capsules.
Height:
1 to 3 feet
Habitat Description: Found mostly along watercourses within riparian forests, desert grasslands, mesquite scrublands and pinyon juniper woodlands.
Plant Communities:
Riparian
Elevation: 2500 - 4500 feet
Color:
Bluish-white
Shape:
Regular in round clusters
Tubular:
Y
Flowering Period:
Mar - Jun
Description:
Flower head in clusters at top of plant; flowers tubular with spreading star-like openings; 5 slightly twisted outer lobes, 1/6 to 1/2 inch long; flower tube 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, broadest below the apex; spreading lobes 1/8 to 1/4 inch long.
Leaf Color:
Dark green
Leaf Type:
Simple
Leaf Shape:
Narrow
Leaf Margin:
Smooth
Leaf Attachment:
Alternate
Leaves Clasp:
N
Hairs:
Leaves
Spines:
N
Leaf Description:
Alternate, growing on stem, lance-like to elongated; lower leaves 1 to 3-1/2 inches long, 1/4 to 3/4 inch wide; upper leaves smaller, 1 to 2-3/4 inches long, 1/16 to 1/2 inch wide; smooth to hairy with prominent mid-vein.
Fruit Type: Capsule
Fruit Notes: Pair of elongated, circular in cross section capsules, 3/4 to 5 inches long, dry, many-seeded fruits opening along 1 side.
Seed Notes: Cylindrical, corky, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, to 1/8 inch broad.
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