desert moonpod
Acleisanthes nevadensis (Standl.) B.L.Turner
Acleisanthes nevadensis, known as desert moonpod, is a flowering plant in the Nyctaginaceae family. It is native to the southwestern United States, including southern Nevada, and parts of Utah, Arizona, and eastern California. The plant thrives in desert environments like scrub and rocky washes. It has hairy, fleshy leaves and produces trumpet-shaped flowers with a narrow green throat and a white corolla. The fruit is a hairy, ribbed structure with five white wings.
Description
Acleisanthes nevadensis is a herbaceous plant that grows from a woody base, with stems up to 30 centimeters long. Its leaves are oval or rounded, up to 3 centimeters in length, and covered in thick, white, furry hairs with some glandular hairs. Flowers appear in leaf axils and have five long stamens and a long style with a spherical stigma. The plant's fruit is notable for its five broad, white wings. This species is adapted to arid conditions and is found in desert habitats.
Other common names
desert moonpod
Distribution
North America · Arizona · California · Nevada · Utah
Synonyms
Selinocarpus nevadensisSelinocarpus diffusus subsp. nevadensis
