Kingdom Plantae Family Krameriaceae Scientific name Krameria bicolor Rank Species | Order Zygophyllales Genus Krameria Higher classification Krameria | |
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Similar Krameria, Krameria erecta, Hyptis emoryi, Eschscholzia minutiflora, Bahiopsis parishii |
Krameria bicolor is a perennial shrub or subshrub of the family Krameriaceae, the Rhatanies. It is commonly known as white rhatany, crimson-beak, and chacate in Spanish (cosahui in the state of Sonora). It is found in drier environments of the southwestern United States from California to Texas, and in northern Mexico.
![Krameria bicolor bicolor White Ratany Southwest Desert Flora](https://alchetron.com/cdn/krameria-bicolor-0a181d04-835c-42ad-a215-b29ea30ff25-resize-750.jpeg)
It is a low lying, densely branched shrub, commonly up to 2 feet (1 m), but exceptionally to beyond 5.0 feet (2 m). The branches are spiny in form but not sharp nor firm at the tips. The leaves are grey-green to greenish, finely-haired, narrow and only one half to three quarters of an inch long.
![Krameria bicolor White Ratany Krameria Bicolor](https://alchetron.com/cdn/krameria-bicolor-5d4216a9-2510-4255-879d-e4637205894-resize-750.jpeg)
The color of the plant and branches is grayish-green to gray, or whitish-gray, to dull browns or tinged with red. The flowers are often sparse and sometimes inconspicuous, but plants in some locales can bloom prolifically in red flowers.
![Krameria bicolor httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu](https://alchetron.com/cdn/krameria-bicolor-238d2ea1-d0be-480f-9289-d7130ab1a98-resize-750.jpg)
The shrub is adapted to dry, desert environments, but it can take advantage of high soil moisture. The plant is partially parasitic, for example on creosote bush, Larrea tridentata.
![Krameria bicolor Desert Plants](https://alchetron.com/cdn/krameria-bicolor-30dde99a-2a36-4750-be52-3ad5a85ce21-resize-750.jpeg)