Kingdom Plantae Tribe Tageteae Scientific name Nicolletia occidentalis Rank Species | Order Asterales Genus Nicolletia Higher classification Nicolletia | |
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Similar Daisy family, Sphaeralcea ambigua, Brickellia, Cylindropuntia bigelovii | ||
Nicolletia occidentalis is a flowering plant in the marigold tribe of the daisy family which is known by the common name Mojave hole-in-the-sand plant.
This flower is native to California, especially the Mojave Desert, and northern Baja California.
Description
Nicolletia occidentalis is a desert-adapted perennial herb with a skeletonlike appearance. The narrow, fleshy leaves each end in a bristle and have large oil glands which exude a strong unpleasant scent. The plant grows from a deep taproot in the desert sand and the stem is sometimes surrounded by a depression in the sand, a trait that gives it its common name.
This plant bears showy flowers with curving bright pink ray florets and yellow centers.
References
Nicolletia occidentalis Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA