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Xylorhiza tortifolia (Torr. & A. Gray) Greene

Mojave aster, desert aster, mojave woodyaster

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
OrderAsteralesFlowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
FamilyAsteraceaeThe aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
GenusXylorhizaWoodyasters, from the Greek for “woody root”
SpeciestortifoliaFrom the Latin for “twisted leaf”

About plant names...

This aster is native to the Mojave, Sonoran, and Great Basin deserts, and surrounding regions, of the southwestern United States. It is found in creosote bush scrub, saltbush scrub, and Joshua tree woodlands, below 1.0 mi (1.7 km) in elevation.

Plants: A perennial rounded, heavily branched shrub 8-24″ (20-60 cm) around.

Leaves: linear or lanceolate, with spiny tips and edges. Leaves are ⅞-4″ (2.5-10 cm) long, with hairy and glandular surfaces.

Flowers: Plants have as many as 20 composite flowers. Each peduncle or flower-bearing stem is 3-10″ (8-25 cm). Phyllaries making up the cuplike green structure under the flower are ⅛-⅞″ (5-25 mm) × 0.7-2.5 mm. There are 25-60 ray flowers, each ⅜-1¼″ (1-3.3 cm) long; and 70-110 central disc flowers. Ray flowers are lavendar, light blue, or white. The overall flowerheads may be up to 2″ (5 cm) around.

Fruits: 1/16-3/16″ (3-6 mm), with pappus bristles up to ¼″ (9 mm) long. Each entire fruit is over ⅜″ (1 cm) long.

Online References:

Wikipedia

DesertUSA: Exploring the Southwest

Www.gbif.org

The Jepson Manual (Xylorhiza tortifolia var. tortifolia)

Xylorhiza tortifolia (mojave aster, desert aster, mojave woodyaster)

5/3/2018 · Keys View, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia

Xylorhiza tortifolia (mojave aster, desert aster, mojave woodyaster)

5/3/2018 · Keys View, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)

 

Xylorhiza tortifolia description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 1 Sep 2021.

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Xylorhiza tortifolia (mojave aster, desert aster, mojave woodyaster)

5/3/2018 · Keys View, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia

Xylorhiza tortifolia (mojave aster, desert aster, mojave woodyaster)

5/3/2018 · Keys View, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)

Xylorhiza tortifolia (mojave aster, desert aster, mojave woodyaster)

5/3/2018 · Keys View, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)

Xylorhiza tortifolia (mojave aster, desert aster, mojave woodyaster)

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

Xylorhiza tortifolia (mojave aster, desert aster, mojave woodyaster)

5/3/2018 · Keys View, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 4 × 6″ (11 × 16 cm)

Xylorhiza tortifolia (mojave aster, desert aster, mojave woodyaster)

5/3/2018 · Keys View, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm)

Range:

About this map...