Scientific Family
Amaranthaceae
Synonyms
Achyranthes lanuginosa, Cladothrix lanuginosa
Other common names
honeymat
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
Trailing to 20 inches
Riparian
Yes
These low-growing plants trail on the ground and form small mats or large, spreading mounds. Occasionally up to 1-1/2 feet high and 5 feet wide. Collects blowing sand.
Stems trailing or prostrate. Stems much branched, radiating out from the root, 4 to 24 inches long. Leaves opposite and very hairy. Yellow flowers minute and perfect in axillary clusters.
Habitat
Primary and disturbed vegetation, riparian forests, pinyon-juniper woodlands, desert scrub, grasslands.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
0
High elevation
5500
Flower Characteristics
The flowers are in clusters at the leaf axils. Individual flowers are 1/8 inch wide and have 5 pointed sepals, 5 yellow-tipped stamens opposite the sepals and no petals.
Flower color
Yellowish-green
Flower shape
Inconspicuous
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
The leaves are oval to heart-shaped, and densely covered in fuzzy, grayish-white hair. They are 2 inches long, including the stem, and 1 inch wide. The stems are reddish and flocked with fine, white hairs.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit type
Berry-like
Fruit color
Brown
Seed obovoid (egg-shaped, with the broad end at the top).