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 Leaves Arizona State University Vascular Plant Herbarium, 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:
Annual Similar Species: Plagiobothrys californicus var. ursinus, P. collinus var. fulvescens
General Desc:
Leafy, hairy annual with slender stems that spread on the ground or curve upward. Green leaves have a narrow spoon-like shape. Tiny 5-petaled white flowers resembling popped popcorn grow in elongated clusters that are widely spaced on the flower stalk.
Identification notes: Slender stemmed, stems often trailing, often very leafy; spreading hairs; lower stem leaves opposite, upper alternate, narrow; flowers in elongated clusters, petals white, less than 1/2 inch; nutlet scar left on top of very short angled narrow stalk.
Height:
4 to 16 inches long
Habitat Description: Grows in dry, sandy or gravelly soils in a variety of habitats such as chaparral and scrub. Also found in open conifer and oak forests. Reported to grow in various habitats after fires.
Plant Communities:
Desert Scrub, Interior Chaparral, Semidesert Grasslands, Pinyon Juniper Woodland, Montane Conifer Forest
Elevation: 2000 - 6500 feet
Color:
White
Shape:
Regular in elongated clusters
Tubular:
Y
Flowering Period:
Mar - May
Description:
Flowers grow on a spike-like stalk from the leaf axils (between the leaf and stem) almost to the base. Each tiny flower is bell-like, has 5 petals and is about 1/16 to 1/4 inch wide. Below each flower are narrow leaf-like sepals about 1/8 inch long.
Leaf Color:
Green
Leaf Type:
Simple
Leaf Shape:
Narrow
Leaf Margin:
Smooth
Leaf Attachment:
Alternate and opposite
Leaves Clasp:
N
Hairs:
Leaves and stems
Spines:
N
Leaf Description:
Leaves and stems are coated in fine and rough hairs. The leaves along the stem are about 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches long. The lower leaves are oppositely arranged on the stem and the upper leaves are alternately arranged.
Fruit Color: Light green
Fruit Type: Nutlet
Fruit Notes: Fruit is an egg-shaped, tiny (1/16 inch) nut with a hard outer layer. Angular intersecting veins can be seen on the nutlet surface with magnification. 4 nutlets are often produced which leave a scar at the tip of the stalk when detaching at maturity.
Seed Notes: Each nutlet contains 1 seed and does not split open to release the seed when ripe.
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