California Ayenia
Ayenia compacta
Photographed in the Wickenburg Mountains, Yavapai Co., Arizona. Sept. 2008.
SHRUB: A small, obscure sub-shrub rarely more than
½ meter tall. A dozen or so weakly woody stems from a woody
crown. Leafy by mid spring or again after summer rains.
LEAVES: Leaves alternate, deltoid-shaped, and serrate on margins. Long
conspicuous hairs.
RANGE: Bajadas and rocky slopes along northern tier of the Sonoran
Desert in Arizona and ranging westward into California.
FRUIT: A small, spherical capsule that eventually splits into usually
five segments. Prickle bumps on fruit surface.
FLOWERS: Small flowers are close to stems and mostly inconspicuous.
Whitish petals and with a burgandy colored stamen tube. Flowers Aug-Sept.
UNARMED. No thorns or spines.