Lygodesmia texana
| Lygodesmia texana | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Close-up of flower | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Lygodesmia |
| Species: | L. texana |
| Binomial name | |
| Lygodesmia texana | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| Lygodesmia aphylla var. texana Torr. & A.Gray | |
Lygodesmia texana, the Texas skeleton plant, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the US states of New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma, and to northeastern Mexico.[1][2] A perennial reaching at most 2 ft (60 cm), it prefers to grow on well-drained limestone soil and blooms from April to August.[2]
Description
The Texas skeleton plant has a wide, light purple flower at the end of a thin and leafless stem, typically 12-24 inches in height. The base of the plant has a handful of small leaves. Only one flower blooms at the end of each stem at a time, and it features 8-12 light purple petals with a white center. The stems bleed sap when broken which can form into a gum.[2]
Name origin
The common name derives from the bare, leafless stem that grows at odd angles, resembling something skeletal. Other names include Texas skeleton weed, purple dandelion, and flowering straw.[2]
References
- ^ a b "Lygodesmia texana (Torr. & A.Gray) Greene ex Small". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Lygodesmia texana". Plant Database. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. 29 December 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
Texas Skeleton Plant, Texas Skeleton Weed, Skeleton-plant, Purple Dandelion, Flowering Straw