Bigelow's linanthus

Linanthus bigelovii (A.Gray) Greene

Linanthus bigelovii, a flowering plant in the Polemoniaceae family, is an annual herb native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It thrives in dry environments, including the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. The plant features a slender stem up to 20 cm tall, with linear or needle-like, unlobed leaves measuring 1 to 3 cm in length. Its inflorescence consists of small white flowers with lobes just under 1 cm long, often lavender-tinted, and black centers. These flowers open in the evening.

Description

Linanthus bigelovii is found in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Mexico Northwest. It was first described in 1892 by Greene, based on earlier work by A. Gray. The species is commonly known as Bigelow's linanthus. The plant's habitat is primarily arid, and its flowers are adapted for evening pollination. The species is part of the phlox family, which includes a variety of flowering plants with similar ecological adaptations.