Shrubs, mound-forming, 1–2 m. Stems erect, with long and short shoots, young branches green, becoming gray with age, strigose, tips often thorny. Leaves: blade linear to linear-lanceolate, on both long and short shoots 0.5–15 × 0.5–2 mm, ape\× acute to mucronate, surfaces strigose, sometimes with multicellular, stipitate, glandular hairs. Inflorescences axillary, solitary flowers (on short shoots only, often appearing clustered because of shoot compression). Flowers: sepals slightly cupped inward, bright pink or magenta, lanceolate to ovate, 8–10 mm; secretory petals pink, 2–3 mm, with oil-filled blisters mostly on distal portions of outer surfaces; petaloid petals 4–6 mm, connate basally, distinct portions green basally and pink or pink with purple edges distally, oblanceolate to reniform, 2–4 mm; stamens didynamous; ovary strigose; style pink. Capsules cordate in outline, with longitudinal ridge more pronounced on 1 face, 6 mm diam., glabrous or densely strigose, spines stout, 2–5 mm, each usually bearing curved, multicellular hairs on basal 1/2 and retrorse barbs near tip. 2n = 12.

Phenology: Flowering Mar–Oct.
Habitat: Sands, gravel ridges, limestone-derived soils.
Elevation: 0–1700 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ariz., Calif., Nev., N.Mex., Tex., Utah, Mexico (Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Zacatecas).

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.