Abronia elliptica
Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 26: 7. 1899.
Plants perennial, sometimes nearly acaulescent. Stems decumbent to erect, elongate, glandular-pubescent, infrequently glabrous. Leaves: petiole 1–4 cm; blade ovate elliptic-oblong to ovate, 1.5–6 × 0.5–3.5 cm, margins entire to sinuate, often undulate, adaxial surface glabrous or puberulent, abaxial surface thinly puberulent to pubescent. Inflorescences: peduncle longer than subtending petiole; bracts ovate to obovate, 5–20 × 3–10 mm, scarious, apex obtuse to acute, glandular-pubescent to villous; flowers 25–75. Perianth: tube rose to greenish, 10–20 mm, limb white, 5–8 mm diam. Fruits broadly turbinate, apex truncate or rounded and slightly beaked, or fruit ± rhombic in profile, 5–12 × 4–8.5 mm, scarious, tapered at both ends; wings (2–)5 (often 2 on periphery of inflorescence and folded together), dilated distally and flattened perpendicular to plane of lamina, dilations longer than wide, thin walled, cavities extending throughout.
Phenology: Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly soils, desert grasslands, scrub
Elevation: 700-2500 m
Distribution
Ariz., Colo., Nev., N.Mex., Utah, Wyo.
Discussion
Selected References
None.