Oreganillo
Aloysia wrightii
LEAVES: Intense
oregano-like aroma from crushed leaves which are small, opposite, and with
crenulate margins. Prominent impressed veins give the leaves a distinct
texture.
SHRUB: A woody shrub normally 1 to 1½ meter tall with thin, weak
branches that are angled.
RANGE: Fairly widespread through much of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona
especially on upper bajadas and partly shaded rocky slopes from 500 to well
over 1000 m elevation. Often requires a bit of searching to find.
FRUIT: Small nutlets.
FLOWERS: Very small five pointed flowers are white to lavender in color
and arranged into long, narrow spikes. The enlarged view of an individual flower
is shown several times actual size.
UNARMED.