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Leaves Patrick Alexander @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) | Plant Frankie Coburn @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) | | | | |
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Origin:
Native
Life Cycle:
Annual
General Desc:
Erect hairy stems and leaves; basal rosette leaves are oval with narrowing at the stem attachment; stem leaves are mostly bract-like, some basal-like leaves also present; flowers spiny, hairy; plant persists as brown-blackened herbage long after death. Identification notes: Loose mat of basal leaves; woolly stems; stem leaves opposite or in threes, hard, pointed with age; yellow to greenish flowers on erect stems; base (involucre) supporting the flowers 3-angled, 3-ribbed and 3-toothed; 2 spiny tipped bracts subtend flowers. Height:
3/4 inch to 4 inches
Habitat Description: Found on sandy or gravely soils on slopes, flats and desert scrub communities. Widespread on the Mojave and Sonoran deserts.
Plant Communities:
Desert Scrub, Elevation: Below 2500 feet
Color:
Yellow to greenish
Shape:
Regular in clusters
Tubular:
Y
Flowering Period:
Mar - May
Description:
Dense clusters of yellow to greenish spiny flowers with 1 to 2 lobes, hairy; 9 stamens; flower is enclosed by an whorl of 3-angled, 3-ribbed, 3-toothed, spine-tipped bracts (involucre); below the involucre are 2 additional bracts.
Leaf Color:
Green
Leaf Type:
Simple
Leaf Shape:
Narrow
Leaf Margin:
Smooth
Leaf Attachment:
Basal and opposite
Leaves Clasp:
N
Hairs:
Leaves and stems
Spines:
Y
Leaf Description:
Erect hairy stems arise from a rosette of narrow somewhat oval basal leaves; stems are straight at the base becoming branched; stem leaves lance-like, opposite or in threes, woolly hairs underneath, 3/4 inch long and 1/8 inch wide; sharp spines at tip.
Fruit Color: Brown Fruit Type: Achene Fruit Notes: Fruit is hard, 3-angled; oval, 1/16 inch long; pointed at top (beak); does not open at maturity along lines or pores.
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