twisted cleomella
Cleomella plocasperma S.Watson
Cleomella plocasperma is a flowering plant species in the Cleomaceae family, commonly known as twisted cleomella. It is native to the Great Basin and Mojave Desert regions in the western United States, including California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah. The plant is adapted to wet, alkaline soils, often found around hot springs and in association with halophytic species like saltgrass and greasewood. A disjunct population exists in the Bruneau Valley of Idaho.
Description
This annual herb has a smooth, hairless stem that branches into erect or upright stems up to half a meter in height. Its sparse leaves are divided into three narrow leaflets. The flowers, arranged in a raceme at the top of each branch, have four yellow petals and long stamens that can exceed a centimeter in length. The fruit is a capsule with prominent lobes, hanging from the flower receptacle. The species was first described in 1871 by S. Watson.
Other common names
twisted cleomella
Distribution
California · Idaho · Nevada · Oregon · Utah
Synonyms
Cleomella mojavensisCleomella oocarpaCleomella plocasperma var. mojavensisCleomella plocasperma var. strictaCleomella stenospermaCleomella plocasperma var. plocasperma