|
|
 Plant Arizona State University Vascular Plant Herbarium, Usage Rights: Non-Commercial (CC BY-NC) | | | | | |
|
Origin:
Native
Life Cycle:
Annual
General Desc:
Erect and low-growing from a basal cluster of spatula-shaped green to red leaves. Stems are often red, branched at or near the base with spreading branches. Tiny flowers are mostly hidden by the red triangle-shaped leaf-like bracts beneath them.
Identification notes: Low growing dichotomously branched (branches split into 2 parts) annual with basal leaves; leaves mostly without hairs; sepals narrow, and hairy; flowers mostly solitary; bracts below flowers with 3 broad, conspicuous spreading spurs at the base.
Height:
To nearly 8 inches
Habitat Description: Sandy to gravelly flats and slopes; mixed grassland, saltbush, creosote bush, and chaparral communities.
Plant Communities:
Desert Scrub, Interior Chaparral
Elevation: Below 4000 feet
Color:
White to pink
Shape:
Bell-shaped in elongated clusters
Tubular:
Y
Flowering Period:
Mar - May
Description:
Flowers grow in loose clusters at the stem tips. Each flower is 1/16 to 1/8 inch long, hairy, has white to pink tepals (fused petals and sepals) and 6 lobes. Beneath each flower are red, spine-tipped 3-lobed bracts that resemble the shape of a triangle.
Leaf Color:
Green to red
Leaf Type:
Simple
Leaf Shape:
Round or oval
Leaf Margin:
Smooth
Leaf Attachment:
Basal
Leaves Clasp:
N
Hairs:
Leaves and stems
Spines:
N
Leaf Description:
Leaves are 3/4 inch to 2 inches long, grow in a rosette (circular cluster) at the plant's base, are spatula-shaped (slender base, very broad tip) and almost stalkless. Both leaves and stems are minutely hairy; stems have sparse glands and are usually red.
Fruit Color: Brown
Fruit Type: Achene
Fruit Notes: Fruit is about 1/16 inch long, smooth, dry, brown and egg-shaped. It contains 1 seed and does not open to release the seed when mature.
Seed Notes: Straw-colored seeds are globe-like on the bottom tapering to a point at the top resembling the shape of a teardrop.
|
|
