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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Psathyrotes ramosissima (Velvet turtleback)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Psathyrotes ramosissima

Psathyrotes ramosissima (Torr.) A. Gray

Velvet Turtleback, Turtleback

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Tetradymia ramosissima

USDA Symbol: PSRA

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A low, compact, round, gray, velvety plant with a strong turpentine odor and tiny, yellow flower heads.

The plants form mounds resembling the shape of a turtle's shell, and the intermeshed leaves are even fancied to represent its scales, hence one of this species' common names.

 

From the Image Gallery

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb , Subshrub
Size Notes: Up to about 1 foot tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun
Bloom Notes: May flower sporadically in other months following rains.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , NV , UT
Native Distribution: Southwestern Utah south through western Arizona and southeastern California to northwestern Mexico.
Native Habitat: Desert flats and ledges.

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Psathyrotes ramosissima in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Psathyrotes ramosissima in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Psathyrotes ramosissima

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-06
Research By: TWC Staff

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