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Menodora spinescens A. Gray

Spiny menodora

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
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderLamialesAromatic herbs and shrubs, including lavender, lilac, olive, jasmine, ash, teak, snapdragon, sesame, psyllium, garden sage, mint, basil, and rosemary
FamilyOleaceaeTemperate climate shrubs, trees and a few vines, include forsythia, ash, jasmine, privet, olive, lilac, and many others
GenusMenodoraFrom the Greek menos, “force,” and doron, “gift”; Jepson: “perhaps half-moon spear from appearance of fruit on stiff pedicel” (doro in Greek can also mean “spear”). David Hollombe provides the following which seems to confirm the former derivation: “Menodora is explained in the original description as ‘giving force’ or vigor to the cattle, sheep and mules that ate the young shoots of Menodora helianthemoides
SpeciesspinescensSpiny

About plant names...

Spiny menodora is native to the southwestern United States, especially the Mojave desert. It prefers arid moun­tain slopes, dry mesas, and canyons, at elevations of 3500-6500′ (1-2.0 km).

Plants: Densely branched shrubs are 8-20″ (20-50 cm) tall. Branches are round and green or gray, and puberulent (cov­ered in fine hairs). They taper to sharp spines.

Leaves: Alternate, fleshy, in small clusters, sessile, and linear to oblanceolate.

Flowers: Red to pink buds open to white flowers with yellow centers. Each flower usually has 5-6 lobes, and is less than ⅜″ (1 cm) around. Flowers appear from Aprill to May.

Fruits: Round, shiny brownish capsules usually contain two seeds.

Online References:

CalPhotos (Photos)

Discover Life

Bird and Hike

Www.inaturalist.org

Calscape.org

The Jepson Manual

Menodora spinescens (spiny menodora)

4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)

Menodora spinescens (spiny menodora)

4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, Cali­fornia · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Menodora spinescens (spiny menodora)

4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, Cali­fornia · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)

Menodora spinescens A. Gray var. mohavensis Steyerm.

 

Menodora spinescens description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

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Menodora spinescens (spiny menodora)

4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Menodora spinescens (spiny menodora)

4/28/2018 · High Point Overlook, Scenic Drive, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)

Menodora spinescens (spiny menodora)

4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Menodora spinescens (spiny menodora)

4/28/2018 · High Point Overlook, Scenic Drive, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)

Menodora spinescens (spiny menodora)

4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada

Range:

About this map...