New Mexico plumeseed
Rafinesquia neomexicana A.Gray
Rafinesquia neomexicana is a species in the Asteraceae family, commonly known as New Mexico plumeseed. It is an annual plant found in dry regions of the southwestern US and northwestern Mexico. The plant has white, showy flowers, milky sap, and weak, zigzag stems that may grow through other shrubs for support.
Description
Rafinesquia neomexicana, described by A.Gray in 1853, is a member of the Asteraceae family. It is distributed across Sonora, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Baja California, Arizona, California, and parts of Mexico. Plants grow 15–60 cm tall, with involucres 18–25 mm long and ligules extending 15–20 mm beyond phyllaries. Cypselae measure 12–18 (–20) mm, including beaks 3–6 mm long, and pappi consist of 15–21 plumose bristles with crooked, entangled barbs. Chromosome number is 2n = 16. The species is adapted to arid environments and exhibits a climbing growth habit, using other shrubs for structural support.
Other common names
New Mexico plumeseed
Distribution
Sonora · New Mexico · Texas · Nevada · Utah · Baja California · Arizona · California · Mexico Northeast · Mexico Northwest
Synonyms
Nemoseris neomexicana
