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 Leaves Patrick Alexander @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) |  Plant Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) | | | | |
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Origin:
Native
Life Cycle:
Annual or perennial
General Desc:
Slender tap root; stems many, branched in a zig-zag pattern, milky sap. Floral structure (cyathium) looks like a single cup-shaped flower; whorl of white bracts have a female flower, a single pistil surrounded by male flowers each with a single stamen.
Identification notes: Red nectar glands of the floral structure are elongated, with attached narrow white petal-like bracts; leaves opposite, smooth margined, leaf base is usually not symmetric; capsule is smooth, not hairy, up to 1/16 inch long; seeds smooth.
Height:
2 to 9-1/2 inches
Habitat Description: Found in sandy or gravelly soils on desert slopes and flats.
Plant Communities:
Desert Scrub, Interior Chaparral
Elevation: 800 - 3500 feet
Color:
White to red
Shape:
Bell-shaped in clusters
Tubular:
N
Flowering Period:
Jan - Dec
Description:
Floral structure is a cyathium (cup-shaped grouping of bracts enclosing a single female flower) surrounded by 5 clusters of 15 to 32 male flowers; cyathium base has 5 maroon nectar glands attached to narrow white scalloped bracts.
Leaf Color:
Green to reddish
Leaf Type:
Simple
Leaf Shape:
Other
Leaf Margin:
Smooth
Leaf Attachment:
Opposite
Leaves Clasp:
N
Hairs:
Leaves
Spines:
N
Leaf Description:
Many branched, prostrate or erect stems up to 9-1/2 inches long; lowest leaves united at the stem base; leaves oval to oblong 1/16 to 1/2 inch long, attached on short stalk with tiny lance-like leaves (stipules) at base, stipule margins with hairs.
Fruit Color: Light brown to whitish
Fruit Type: Capsule
Fruit Notes: Fruit is a capsule, 1/16 inch in diameter, spherical, 3 angled lobes, 3 ovary chambers, 1 seed per chamber.
Seed Notes: Seeds are <1/16 inch long, oval and 4-angled, without hairs, whitish.
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