Desert Studies Center

Plants—Desert Studies Center

+ - Common names from Edmund Jaeger's Desert Wild Flowers
* - Common names from LeRoy Abram's Illustrated Flora of the Pacific States
** Introduced Species
EPHEDRALES
EPHEDRACEAE EPHEDRA FAMILY
Ephedra nevedensis *Nevada Ephedra, + Nevada Joint Fir
DICOTYLEDONES
AIZOACEAE CARPET-WEED FAMILY
Sesuvium verrucosum *Western Sea-purslane
Trianthema portulacastrum *Horse-purslane, +Lowland Purslane
AMARANTHACEAE AMARANTH FAMILY
Tidestromia oblongifolia *Arizona Honey-sweet, +Honey-sweet
APOCYNACEAE DOGBANE FAMILY
**Nerium oleander +Oleander
ASCLEPIADACEAE MILKWEED FAMILY
Asclepias erosa +Desert Milkweed
Sarcostemma cynanchoides hartwegii
*Climbing-milkweed,Townula, +PurpleClimbing-milkweed
ASTERACEAE SUNFLOWER FAMILY
Ambrosia dumosa *White Bur-sage, +Burrobush
Amphipappus fremontii spinosus *Chaffbush, +Eytelia
Aster subulatus ligulatus *Slim Aster
Baileya pauciradiata *Colorado Desert-marigold, +Lax-flower

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Baileya pleniradiata *+Woolly-marigold
Bebbia juncea asper *+Sweetbush
Brickellia incana *Woolly Brickellia, Brickelbush, +Woolly Brickellia
Chaenactis carphoclinia carphoclinia *+Pebble-pincushion
Chaenactis fremontii *+Fremont-pincushion
Chaenactis stevioides *Broad-flowered Chaenactis +Esteve-pincushion
**Chamomilla suaveolens *Pineapple Weed
Dicoria canescens *+Desert Dicoria
Encelia farinosa *+Brittlebush, Incienso
Encelia frutescens *Bush Encelia, +Rayless Encelia
Eriophyllum ambiguum *Woolly-daisy, +Yellow-frocks
Filago depressa *+Dwarf Filago
Geraea canescens *+Desert-sunflower
Helianthus annuus jaegeri *Common Sunflower, +Annual Sunflower
Hymenoclea salsola salsola *White Burrobush, +Cheesebush
Isocoma acradenia ermophila *Desert Isocoma, +Alkali Goldenbush
Machaeranthera arida *+Silver Lake-daisy
Machaeranthera carnosa *Shrubby Alkali-Aster

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Malacothrix coulteri *+Snakes-head
Malacothrix glabrata *+Desert-dandelion
Monoptilon bellioides *+Mojave Desert-star
Palafoxia arida arida *+Spanish-needle
Pectis papposa papposa +Chinch-weed
Perityle emoryi *+Emory Rock-daisy
Perityle emoryi *+Emory Rock-daisy
Peucephyllum schottii *+Desert-fir, Pigmy-cedar
Pleurocoronis pluriseta *+Arrow Leaf
Pluchea sericea *+Arrow Weed
Prenanthella exigua *Annual Lygdesemia, +Egbertia
Psathyrotes annnua *Mealy Rosettes, +Fan-leaf
Rafinesquia neomexicana *+Desert-chicory
Senecio mohavensis *+Mojave Groundsel
Stephanomeria exigua exigua *Small Stephanomeria, +Annual Mitra
Stephanomeria parryi *Parry's Stephanomeria, +Parry Rock-pink
Stephanomeria pauciflora *Few-flowered
Stephanomeria, Wire lettuce, +Desert-straw

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Stylocline micropoides *Woolly Stylocline, Desert Nest-straw,+Desert Nest-straw
Xylorhiza tortifolia tortifolia *Mojave-aster
BORAGINACEAE BORAGE FAMILY
Amsinckia tessellata tessellata *Tessellate Fiddleneck, +Checker Fiddleneck
Cryptantha angustifolia +Narrow-leaved Forget-Me-Not
Cryptantha decipens *Gravel Cryptantha, +Gravel Forget-Me-Not
Crythantha maritima *Guadalupe Crypthantha, +White-haired Forget-Me-Not
Cryptantha micrantha *Eremocarya, +Purple-rooted Forget-Me-Not
Cryptantha nevadensis *Nevada Crypthantha, +Nevada Forget-Me-Not
Crypthantha pterocarya cycloptera *Wing-nut
Crypthantha,+Wing-Nut,Forget-Me-Not
Heliotropium curassavicum *Seaside Heliotrope, +Chinese-pusley
Pectocarya heterocarpa *Chuckwalla Pectocarya
Pectocarya platycarpa *Broad-fruited Pectocarya, +Broad-nutted Combbur
Pectocarya recurvata *Recurved Pectocarya, +Arched-nutted Combbur
Plagiobothrys jonesii *Jone's Plagiobothrys, +Jone's Popcorn-flower
Tiquilia plicata *+Plicate Coldenia

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BRASSICACEAE MUSTARD FAMILY
Caulanthus cooperi *+Cooper's Caulanthus
Descurainia californica *Sierra Tansy-mustard, *+California Tansymustard
**Descurainia sophia *Flixweed, Tansy-mustard, *+Sophia Tansy-mustard
Dithyrea californica *California Shield-pod, +Spectacle-pod
Guillenia lasiophyllum *California-mustard
Lepidium lasiocarpum lasiocarpum *Hairy-pod Pepper-grass
Streptanthella longirostris *Streptanthella, +Long-beaked Twistflower
CACTACEAE CACTUS FAMILY
Echinocactus polycephalus polycephalus *Cotton-top Cactus
Echinocereus engelmanii chrysocentrus *Saints' Cactus, +Calico Cactus
Mammillaria tetrancistra *Yaqui Cactus, +Corkseed Cactus
Opuntia basilaris basilaris *+Beaver-tail Cactus
Opuntia echinocarpa *Summer Cholla, +Thorny-fruited Cactus
CAPPARACEAE CAPPER FAMILY
Cleomella obtusifolia *Bushy Cleomella, +Blunt-leaf Stinkweed
CARYOPHYLLACEAE CHICKWEED FAMILY
Achyronychia cooperi *Onyx Flower, +Frost-mat, Chaff-nail

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CHENOPODIACEAE GOOSEFOOT FAMILY
Allenrolfea occidentalis +Picklebush, Picklewood, *Iodine Bush
Atriplex canescens canescens *Hoary Saltbush, +Wingscale, Hoary Saltbush
Atriplex hymenelytra *+Desert-holly
Atriplex lentiformis lentiformis *Lens-fruited saltbush, Quail Brush, +Lenscale
Atriplex phyllostegia *Arrow Saltbush, +Arrow Scale
Atriplex polycarpa *Many-fruited Saltbush, Allscale, +Cattle-spinach
**Cycloloma atriplicifolium *Winged-pigweed
Nitrophila occidentalis *Nitrophila, +Alkali-weed
**Salsola tragus *Russian-thistle, +Russian-thistle, Prickly Saltwort
Suaeda moquinii *Salton Sea-blite, +Inkweed, Torrey Sea-blite
CUSCUTACEAE DODDER FAMILY
Cuscuta denticulata *DesertDodder, Toothed Dodder, +Toothed Dodder
EUPHORBIACEAE SPURGE FAMILY
Chamaesyce polycarpa hirtella *Golondrina, +Small-seed Sand-mat
Croton californica mohavensis *California Croton, +Desert Croton
Stillingia spinulosa *Annual Stillingia, +Broad-leaved Stillingia

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FABACEAE PEA FAMILY
Astragalus lentiginosus fremontii *Mottled Rattleweed, +Dapple-pod
**Cercidium floridum floridum *+Border Palo Verde
**Cercidium floridum floridum *+Border Palo Verde
Dalea mollissima *Downy Dalea, +Silk Dalea
Lotus salsuginosus brevivexillus *Humble Hosackia, Annual Lotus
Lupinus arizonicus +Arizona Lupine
Lupinus brevicaulis Short-stemmed Platycarpos, Short-stemmed Blue Lupine
**Parkinsonia aculeata *Palo Verde
Prosopis glandulosa torreyana *+Mesquite
Prosopis pubescens *+Tornillo, Screw-bean
Psorothamnus spinosus *+Smoke Tree
GERANIACEAE GERANIUM FAMILY
**Erodium cicutarium *Red-Stemmed Filaree, +Filaree
Erodium texanum *Texas Filaree, +Desert Heron's-bill
HYDROPHYLLACEAE WATERLEAF FAMILY
Nama demissum demissum *+Purple Mat
Phacelia crenulata crenulata *Heliotrope Phacelia, +Notch-leaved Phacelia

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LOASACEAE STICK-LEAF FAMILY
Mentzelia albicaulis *White-stemmed Stick-leaf, +Small-flowered Blazing star
Mentzelia multiflora longiloba *Yerba Amarilla, +Adonis, Blazing Star, Panamint Blazing Star
Petalonyx thurberi thurberi *Common Sandpaper Plant,+Thurber Sandpaper Plant
MALVACEAE MALLOW FAMILY
Eremalche exilis *+White-mallow
Eremalche rotundifolia *Desert Five-spot,+Desert Five-spot, Chinese Lantern
NYCTAGINACEAE FOUR-O'CLOCK FAMILY
Abronia villosa villosa *Desert Sand-verbena, +Hairy Sand-verbena
Allionia incarnata *Allionia, Windmills, +Windmills
Mirabilis bigelovii retrorsa *Desert Four-O'Clock, Wishbone Bush, +Wishbone Bush
ONAGRACEAE EVENING-PRIMROSE FAMILY
Camissonia boothii intermedia *+Booth's-primrose
Camissonia brevipes brevipes *Desert-primrose, +Yellow Cups
Camissonia brevipes pallidula *Desert-primrose, +Yellow Cups
Camissonia claviformis aurantiaca *Clavate-fruited primrose, +Brown-eyed primrose
Camissonia claviformis lancifolia *Clavate-fruited primrose, +Browneyed primrose
Camissonia claviformis x brevipes *Clavate-fruited primrose, +Browneyed primrose

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Camissonia refracta *Refracted Desert primrose, +Narrow-leaved primrose
Oenothera deltoides deltoides *Large Desert Evening-primrose, +Dune primrose
OROBANCHACEAE BROOMRAPE FAMILY
Orobanche cooperi *Cooper's Broomrape, Desert Broomrape, +Burro-weed Strangler
PAPAVERACEAE POPPY FAMILY
Argemone corymbosa* Leafy Prickly Poppy, +Prickly Poppy
Eschscholzia minutiflora *Pygmy-poppy, +Little Gold-poppy
Eschscholzia glyptospera *Mojave Poppy, +Desert Gold-poppy
PLANTAGINACEAE PLANTAIN FAMILY
Plantago ovata (incl.P.insularis fastigiata) *Island Plantain, +Woolly Plantain
POLEMONACEA PHLOX FAMILY
Gilia filiformis *Thin Gilia, *+Thread-stemmed Gilia
Gilia latifolia *+Broad-leaved Gilia
Langloisia setosissima punctata *Spotted Langloisia, Lilac Sunbonnet, +Spotted Gilia
Linanthus demissus *Desert Linanthus, +Humble Gilia
Linanthus jonesii *Jone's Linanthus
Loeseliastrum matthewsii *+Desert Calico

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POLYGONACEAE BUCKWHEAT FAMILY
Chorizanthe brevicornu brevicornu *+Brittle Chorizanthe, Spine Flower
Chorizanthe corrugata *Wrinkled Chorizanthe, Spine Flower, +Corrugata
Chorizanthe rigida *Rigid Chorizanthe, Spiny-herb, +Rigid Spinyherb
Eriogonum brachypodum *Flat-crown Eriogonum, +Tecopa Skeleton Weed
Eriogonum inflatum inflatum *+Desert-trumpet
Eriogonum pusillum *Puny Eriogonum, +Yellow Turban
Eriogonum thomasii *+Thomas's Eriogonum
Eriogonum trichopes trichopes *Yellow Trumpet, **Little Trumpet
RESEDACEAE MIGNONETTE FAMILY
Oligomeris linifolia *Oligomeris, +Linear-leaved Cambess
RUBIACEAE BEDSTRAW FAMILY
Galium stellatum eremicum *+Desert Bedstraw
SAURURACEAE LIZARD'S-TAIL FAMILY
Anemopsis californica *Yerba Mansa
SCROPHULARIACEAE FIGWORT FAMILY
Mimulus bigelovii bigelovii *Bigelow's Monkey-flower, +Bigelow Mimulus
Mimulus bigelovii cuspidatus *Bigelow's Monkey-flower, +Bigelow Mimulus
Mohavea breviflora *Golden Desert Snapdragon, +Lesser Mohavea

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SOLANACEAE POTATO FAMILY
Physalis crassifolia *+Thick-leaved Ground-cherry
TAMARICACEAE TAMARIX FAMILY
**Tamarix aphylla Tamarisk, Athel
**Tamarix ramosissima Tamarisk
VISCACEAE MISTLETOE FAMILY
Phoradendron californicum *California Mistletoe, +Desert Mistletoe
ZYGOPHYLLACEAE CALTROP FAMILY
Larrea tridentata *Cresote Bush, +Cresote Bush, Covillea
Tribulus terrestris *Land Caltrop, Puncture Weed
MONOCOTYLEDONES
ARECACEAE PALM FAMILY
**Phoenix reclinata Sengelese Date Palm
**Washingtonia filifera +Desert Palm, California Fan Palm
**Washingtonia robusta Mexican Fan Pal
Nomenclature conforms to the Jepson Manual Higher Plants of California, 1993, Editor, James C. Hickman.
List prepared by Alan Romspert, Coordinator, Desert Studies California Desert Studies Center.
Contribution Number Series #66.

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