Scientific Family
Chenopodiaceae
Synonyms
Eurotia lanata, Ceratoides lanata, Ceratoides lanata var. ruinina , Ceratoides lanata var. subspinosa
Other common names
white sage
mule-fat
Plant type
Shrubs
Riparian
No
Plant Description
Origin
Native
Low growing, long-lived subshrub, woody based with numerous annual branchlets. Fluffy seedheads cover plant to make it look like an exploded pillow. Widespread and conspicuous with its densely matted, soft, long white tangled hairs.
Woody based subshrub with numerous upright stems. Leaves alternate or clustered, linear or lance-shaped. Herbage densely covered with long white hairs. Flowers inconspicuous and imperfect, borne in stem axils or on terminal spikes.
Height
2 feet
Width
1-1/2 feet
Habitat
Habitat description
Found on slopes and plains, sometimes in alkaline soils.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Low elevation
2000
High elevation
7000
Leaves
Leaf color
Blue-green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaf hairs
Top and bottom of leaves
Spines
No
Leaf Drop
Evergreen
Leaves alternate, clustered, linear to lance-like on short stalks; prominent mid-vein on underside of leaf, channeled on top; margins strongly revolute; leaves densely covered in silky or star-like hairs.
Flowers
Flower color
White
Flower shape
Inconspicuous
Tubular
No
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
October
Flowers in axillary clusters and terminal spike-like clusters, covered in long straight white hairs; lacking petals; male flowers deciduous. Flowers inconspicuous with no petals, clustered in the leaf axils; woolly and white with a green stripe.
Flower clusters
Other
Fruit
Fruit color
White to pink
Fruit type
Feathery
Plumes of fluffy white seeds cover the female plants from September through December.