Scientific Family
Amaranthaceae
Synonyms
Froelichia braunii, Oplotheca gracilis
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
8 to 20 inches
Riparian
No
Branched from base and sprawls on the ground with ascending outer branches; all parts of the plant, especially seedhead, covered with cottony white hairs.
Annual; much branched at the base, stems slender; leaves opposite, pointed, thin, lance-like; flowers perfect, in spikes, white cottony tufts; flower bracts dark tipped, unite into a hardened tube that enclose the fruit, somewhat spiny winged in fruit.
Habitat
Open plains, rocky hillsides, roadsides, waste ground, and railroad ballast.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
4500
High elevation
5500
Flower Characteristics
Seedhead is 2 inch woolly spike with flowers in 3-rowed spirals; tiny individual flowers wrapped in thick, white, cottony hairs; brownish sepals; buds are enclosed by dark, hairless bracteoles (protective coverings).
Flower color
White
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Opposite, thin, simple; lance-like to oval narrowing to a slender point at tip and wedge-shaped at base; smooth margins; to 2 inches long and 1/3 inch wide; blades on short stalks, leaf surfaces slightly woolly, more woolly below.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Thin and bladder-like seed vessel, 1-seeded fruit; not open at maturity; 1/4 inch long and 1/4 inch wide wide, somewhat spiny lateral wings; fruits are within the tubes formed by the stalk-like portion on the stamen.
Fruit type
Other