Stems erect to ascending; smooth, or hairy becoming smooth with age; narrow leaves at right angles to stems; flowers at branch tips; fruits relatively large when compared to rest of plant; foliage may be dark in color, greenish-purplish-reddish.
Stems erect to ascending; leaf blades narrow, margins smooth, 2 to 4 small teeth at tips; 23 to 36 male flowers in 5 clusters surround 1 female flower, styles red; glands green to brownish-red, hairy, appendages narrow, pointed, curving over the glands.
Habitat
Found on dry soils on hot, rocky slopes, along washes, in canyons, in the shelter of small shrubs.
Flower Characteristics
Flowers solitary or a few clustered at branch tips; 23 to 36 male flowers, generally in 5 clusters around a solitary female flower; 3 red styles; 4 to 5 green to brownish-red glands obscured by hairs; 5 to 7 petal-like appendages curving over the glands.
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Alternate, narrow, 3/4 to 3 inches long, 2 to 4 small teeth at pointed tips, margins smooth, surfaces hairy, becoming hairless with age, leaf blades with short stalks and minute, leaf-like appendages at base of stalk; visible midvein.
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Oblong, 3-lobed (the lobes not obvious) capsules, 1/4 inch long, plainly longer than wide, with hairy surfaces.
Seeds white to gray, 1/4 inch long, flattened top to bottom, 4-angled, wart-like surfaces, irregularly pitted (small depressions) and an obvious caruncle (appendage at seed attachment).