Common name:
Dwarf false pennyroyal
Family:
Scientific name:
Hedeoma nana
Main flower color:
Range:
East California, eastwards to west Texas
Height:
Up to 10 inches
Habitat:
Rocky canyons, limestone outcrops; 3,000 to 6,500 feet
Leaves:
Round or oval, about a third of an inch long, with a pointed tip and entire edges
Season:
April to June
Hedeoma nana branches from the base, sending up many arching stems which have small, ovate leaves on the lower half and whorled flower clusters along the top half, together with a few smaller, bract-like leaves. Stems, leaves and calyces have a short, fine hair covering. Leaves may have reddish/purple edges and veins.
Flowers are formed of a purple, five pointed calyx, for which the upper three points are partly fused, while the lower two are free, and slightly longer. Conversely, the pink/purple corolla has a two-lobed upper lip and a three-lobed lower lip, of which the middle lobe is the longest. The lower lip has a white patch at the center, and is somewhat curved back, especially the middle lobe. The length of the lower lip is less than the width. The corolla has a sparse covering of short hairs, both outside and inside.
Flowers are formed of a purple, five pointed calyx, for which the upper three points are partly fused, while the lower two are free, and slightly longer. Conversely, the pink/purple corolla has a two-lobed upper lip and a three-lobed lower lip, of which the middle lobe is the longest. The lower lip has a white patch at the center, and is somewhat curved back, especially the middle lobe. The length of the lower lip is less than the width. The corolla has a sparse covering of short hairs, both outside and inside.
All Contents © Copyright The American Southwest | Comments and Questions | Contribute | Site Map