Erect and low-growing from a basal cluster of spatula-shaped green to red leaves. Stems are often red, branched at or near the base with spreading branches. Tiny flowers are mostly hidden by the red triangle-shaped leaf-like bracts beneath them.
Low growing dichotomously branched (branches split into 2 parts) annual with basal leaves; leaves mostly without hairs; sepals narrow, and hairy; flowers mostly solitary; bracts below flowers with 3 broad, conspicuous spreading spurs at the base.
Habitat
Sandy to gravelly flats and slopes; mixed grassland, saltbush, creosote bush, and chaparral communities.
Flower Characteristics
Flowers grow in loose clusters at the stem tips. Each flower is 1/16 to 1/8 inch long, hairy, has white to pink tepals (fused petals and sepals) and 6 lobes. Beneath each flower are red, spine-tipped 3-lobed bracts that resemble the shape of a triangle.
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are 3/4 inch to 2 inches long, grow in a rosette (circular cluster) at the plant's base, are spatula-shaped (slender base, very broad tip) and almost stalkless. Both leaves and stems are minutely hairy; stems have sparse glands and are usually red.
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit is about 1/16 inch long, smooth, dry, brown and egg-shaped. It contains 1 seed and does not open to release the seed when mature.
Straw-colored seeds are globe-like on the bottom tapering to a point at the top resembling the shape of a teardrop.