Abronia maritima

 

 Abronia maritima (coastal sand verbena) (  )

Nyctaginaceae

  • This prostrate-growing perennial has thick succulent leaves and bright magenta flowers. It forms dense mats on upper beaches and beach dunes throughout the region, including Tiburon Island. Medicine: tea made by cooking the outer portion of the root was taken to aid in the expulsion of a torn placenta. "People of the Desert and Sea, Ethnobotany of the Seri Indians".

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Lupinus arizonicus

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  Lupinus arizonicus (Arizona lupine) ( ) Fabaceae Arizona lupine is one of the most common and conspicuous desert lupines when it blooms in sandy washes and open creosote bush scrub below 3,000 feet in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. Its is particularly abundant in spring along roadsides. Although an annual, Arizona lupine is a robust plant that is typically 1-2 feet in height. Its stems and the underside of its green leaflets have long, spreading hairs. The purple flowers have a yellowish spot on each of the banners, which are the two petals that spread horizontally. "California Native Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."
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Asteraceae

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Asteraceae The most diverse and ecologically significant family of woody and semi-woody shrubs in creosote bush scrub is the sunflower family. Globally Asteraceae is second only to the Orchidaceae in number of species. Memers of the Asteraceae family are challenging to identify until one becomes familiar with flower structures. The essential feature defining the Asteraceae is the presence of composite flower heads that typically include numerous tiny flowers joined in what, at first, resembles a single large flower-as seen in a familiar sunflower. The typical composite flower head is composed of two types of flowers, although either one of these types may be absent in some genera. The outer whorl of flowers in a typical composite head has three petals fused to form what appears to be a single large petal, while the other two petals are absent. These fused petals of the ray flowers, or ligules, are the attractive structures for pollinators. Ray flowers are almost always female. The inne...
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Geraea canescens

  Geraea canescens (desert suflower) ( ) Asteraceae Desert sunflower is a close relative of Encelia that can provide massive displays of yellow across the central and eastern Mojave Desert. Typically this species covers sandy flats under creosote bush scrub at elevations below about 4,000 feet. Its leaves and stems are covered with soft hairs and it displays broad radiate flower heads about ¾ inches in diameter. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann." This fuzzy-leaved, hairy-headed-sunflower reaches heights of two feet in gravelly washes and sandy flats within the lower desert areas. Its large, yellow radiate heads are both showy and aromatic, attracting both bees and hummingbird-moths. Bees that gather its nectar daily also use even-primrose pollen. Desert sunflowers tolerate some disturbance and active sand movement in dune fields below 3, 000 feet in elevation. Flowering is most obvious in early April but may extend from Janua...
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