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Coleogyne ramosissima Torr.

Blackbrush

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassRosidaeRoses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
OrderRosalesRose family and eight others
FamilyRosaceaeIncludes apples, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, roses, meadowsweets, photinias, firethorns, rowans, and hawthorns; many others
GenusColeogyneFrom the Greek koleos, “sheath,” and gune, “ovary”
SpeciesramosissimaVery branched

About plant names...

Blackbrush is a nondescript (except when flowering!) aro­matic shrub that can form extensive colonies. It is native to deserts of the southwestern North America, including parts of the Mojave, Great Basin, and Sonoran deserts. The com­mon name refers to its branches, gray when dry, turning black with rain, or as the shrub ages.

Plants: Densely branched shrubs are 12-79″ (30-200 cm) in height. Branches have spiny tips.

Leaves: Plants are technically evergreen, but they are drought deciduous—they drop many of their leaves in the summer in order to reduce water loss. Leaves are simple (smooth-edged), ⅛-½″ (5-15 mm) long, gray-green, and linear to oblanceolate.

Flowers: Each flower has four thick, fuzzy sepals, yellow inside, and reddish or orange outside; 20-40 yellow stamens; one pistil, and either no petals or up to four. The overall effect is that the flowers look yellowish. Buds are reddish brown. Flow­ering is triggered by heavy rains.

Fruits: Dry, leathery achenes, 1/16-⅛″ (3-4 mm) long, cres­cent-shaped, and red-brown.

Online References:

Wildflowers, Ferns & Trees of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah (great photos)

Calscape.org

Wikipedia

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Www.americansouthwest.net

The Jepson Manual

Coleogyne ramosissima (blackbrush)

5/2/2018 · Cottonwood Visitor Center, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)

 

Coleogyne ramosissima description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 1 Jan 2021.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Coleogyne ramosissima (blackbrush)

5/3/2018 · Ryan Mountain, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)

Coleogyne ramosissima (blackbrush)

5/3/2018 · Ryan Mountain, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

Coleogyne ramosissima (blackbrush)

5/2/2018 · Cottonwood Visitor Center, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

Coleogyne ramosissima (blackbrush)

5/3/2018 · Ryan Mountain, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)

Range:

About this map...