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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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Wislizenia refracta (Spectacle fruit)
Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn

Wislizenia refracta

Wislizenia refracta Engelm.

Spectacle Fruit, Jackass Clover

Capparaceae (Caper Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: WIRE

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Jackass Clover is a sturdy plant, 3-6 feet tall with many branches. Most of the leaves are divided into 3 segments. The yellow flowers, about 1/2 inch across, grow in clusters around the upper fourth of the stem and bloom from the bottom up. The many stamens extend beyond the petals and persist even after the petals wither, giving the flower head a feathery appearance. They often grow so thickly that they give a yellow cast to a considerable area.

Although the plant parts are poisonous if eaten, this is a valuable honey plant nevertheless. The three leaflets give it a resemblance to clovers (Trifolium) in the pea family (Fabaceae), but the plants are not related. The origin of the word "jackass" in the common name is unknown.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Schizocarp
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , NM , NV , TX
Native Distribution: California's Central Valley east through southern Nevada to western Texas, and south to Mexico.
Native Habitat: Low, sandy or alkaline soil in deserts and arid grasslands; frequent along roads and washes.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACU FACW FACU
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Bibliography

Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller

Search More Titles in Bibliography

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-03-15
Research By: TWC Staff

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