Jump to content

Lygodesmia texana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lygodesmia texana
Close-up of flower
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Lygodesmia
Species:
L. texana
Binomial name
Lygodesmia texana
Synonyms[1]

Lygodesmia aphylla var. texana Torr. & A.Gray

Lygodesmia texana, the Texas skeleton plant, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the US states of New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma, and to northeastern Mexico.[1][2] A perennial reaching at most 2 ft (60 cm), it prefers to grow on well-drained limestone soil and blooms from April to August.[2]

Description

[edit]

The Texas skeleton plant has a wide, light purple flower at the end of a thin and leafless stem, typically 12-24 inches in height. The base of the plant has a handful of small leaves. Only one flower blooms at the end of each stem at a time, and it features 8-12 light purple petals with a white center. The stems bleed sap when broken which can form into a gum.[2]

Name origin

[edit]

The common name derives from the bare, leafless stem that grows at odd angles, resembling something skeletal. Other names include Texas skeleton weed, purple dandelion, and flowering straw.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Lygodesmia texana (Torr. & A.Gray) Greene ex Small". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Lygodesmia texana". Plant Database. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. 29 December 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2023. Texas Skeleton Plant, Texas Skeleton Weed, Skeleton-plant, Purple Dandelion, Flowering Straw