Common name:
Annual turtleback
Family:
Scientific name:
Psathyrotes annua
Main flower color:
Range:
The Mojave Desert, north across the Great Basin to a small area of southern Idaho
Height:
Up to 6 inches
Habitat:
Desert plains, washes, canyons and alluvial fans, usually on alkaline soils, from 1,300 to 6,500 feet
Leaves:
Rounded to kidney-shaped, around one inch across, covered in scaly hairs
Season:
April to October
Psathyrotes annua is an unusual, if inconspicuous plant, low-growing, found in the Mojave and Great Basin deserts. Leaves are a little wider than they are long - up to 1 inch, with broad teeth along the margins. Stems branch freely, and most leaves grow at the tips of the branches.
The small flowerheads contain between ten and 21 yellow disc florets, often purplish at the tip. There are five or six outer phyllaries, lanceolate in shape, pointing upwards, and between eight and 13 inner phyllaries, pressed against the involucre; all are similarly hairy to the leaves.
The small flowerheads contain between ten and 21 yellow disc florets, often purplish at the tip. There are five or six outer phyllaries, lanceolate in shape, pointing upwards, and between eight and 13 inner phyllaries, pressed against the involucre; all are similarly hairy to the leaves.
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