Palmer's Bluestar
Amsonia palmeri
Photographed by Sandy Zetlan in the Superstition Mountains along First Water Trail, Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA. April 2007.
Nearly mature fruits observed in the Superstition Mountains along First Water Trail, Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA. 03 May 2009.
FLOWERS: Star-shaped flowers have five points and range in color from
blue to white. Borne in clusters at top of plant.
PERENNIAL: The above ground portions may be entirely herbaceous because
the plant freezes or dies back to ground level in response to sub-freezing
temperatures or drought. Many upright, mostly unbranched stems rising to a
height of maybe one meter.
LEAVES: Leaves are lance shaped and dark green on top surface, alternate
on stem and with smooth margins. An attractive plant, Palmer's Bluestar, should
be a nice accent in xeriscape gardens.
RANGE: Very local and not often found in the Sonoran Desert. Ranges
eastward and is more typical in the Chihuahuan Desert of Texas and New Mexico.
FRUIT: Each flower develops a pair of upright pods. Seeds with hairs.
UNARMED. Without thorns.
Apocynaceae -- Dogbane Family
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More Information:
- Chihuahuan Desert Plants
- USDA Plant Profile
- ITIS Taxonomic Report
- Google Images
- Google Scholar Literature Search