Scientific Family
Polygonaceae
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
1 to 2-1/2 feet
Riparian
No
Perennial herb, erect to slightly spreading. Leaves mostly basal, hairy on both surfaces. Aerial flowering stems are erect, solid, not hollow, 4 to 12 inches long, without hairs.
Flowering stems erect, somewhat spreading; leaves basal, ovate to rounded, leaf blades hairy on both surfaces, sheath up stems. Sepals, petals yellowish to yellowish-red to reddish, without hairs; flowers in sparsely flowered, elongated clusters.
Habitat
Sandy flats and gravelly washes, mixed grassland, saltbush, creosote bush, and mesquite communities. It rarely is common in any location.
Plant Community
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
1950
High elevation
3600
Flower Characteristics
Aerial flowering stems are erect, solid, 4 to 12 inches long, without hairs. Flowers in sparsely flowered, elongated clusters. Sepals and petals yellowish to yellowish-red to reddish, with greenish or reddish midribs. Bracts 3, scale-like, 1/16 inch long.
Flower color
Yellowish to yellowish-red to reddish
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
November
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems erect to slightly spreading. Leaves basal, sheathing up stems, leaf blades rounded and wavy, hairy on both surfaces, up to 6 inches; leaf stem up to 1 inch.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Grayish to bluish-green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
Yes
Leaf hairs
Leaves
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
3-angled, up to 1/16th inch, without hairs.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Dark brown