Scientific Family
Rubiaceae
Synonyms
Hedyotis cervantesii, Hedyotis pygmaea, Hedyotis wrightii
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
To 8 inches
Riparian
No
Small plant with somewhat woody stems and numerous short, narrow, succulent leaves. White to pink to purplish flowers are tubular with 4 flared petals and are clustered at the end of the stems.
Mat forming or growing in tufts or clumps; stems evident above ground mostly decubent or spreading leaves; leaves thick; pedicals recurved in fruit; capsules wider than long; small flowers white, pink or purplish, trumpet-shaped with a narrow throat.
Habitat
Rocky slopes, scrub, grasslands, oak-juniper or ponderosa pine forests.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Low elevation
4200
High elevation
8500
Flower Characteristics
Flowers are tube-shaped with 4 flared petals at top of tube.
Flower color
White to pink to purplish
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are thick, succulent and numerous to 1/2 inch long. Stems are spreading and prostrate.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Dark green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Stalk of developing seed capsule curves downward.
Fruit type
Capsule
Seeds are less than 1/8 inch long with a raised ridge within a cup-shaped cavity.