Fairyduster
Calliandra eriophylla
This photo was taken at the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson by Wikipedia User:Melburnian. License Information: cc-by-sa 2.5 license
FLOWERS: Very long, conspicuous stamens are hot pink. The flower petals
by contrast are small and add little to the flower's showiness. Several flowers
are borne in each spherical cluster.
SHRUB: A low shrub rarely over 1 m tall. Leafless during periods of
drought and after frost.
LEAVES: Finely dissected, bi-pinnate leaves. The leaves close up at night
and if the plant is heavily disturbed/broken.
FRUIT: Flattened bean pods are held erect and begin to curl with
maturity.
RANGE: Common on rocky slopes and along wash banks in the Sonoran
Desert. More common at higher elevations, ca. > 700 m.
UNARMED: Many similar looking leguminous woody plants are thorny. The
lack of thorns adds to the appeal for horticulturists.