Acleisanthes Nevadensis, Desert Wing-Fruit

Acleisanthes nevadensis is a plant of the northern Mojave Desert, centered on Las Vegas, growing over a fairly narrow elevation range. Flowers, relatively short-lasting, are produced singly at the leaf nodes; they are formed of a long (1.5 inches), narrow perianth tube, pale green, and five white or yellowish lobes, greenish at the base. The five exserted stamens have greenish-yellow filaments and yellow anthers.

Fruits are quite distinctive; narrow, oblong cylinders, with a green gland at the tip, and five thin, pale green wings radiating outwards, covered with short, flattened hairs. Leaves are gray-green, yellowish when withered, and sparsely glandular hairy, more so underneath. Leaf margins are wavy. Stems may be upright or prostrate, and they bear alternate leaves at closely-spaced intervals.