Vegetation Around Las Vegas, Narrow-leaved Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon angustifolium)

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Narrow-leaved Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon angustifolium)
Shrubs Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas

General: Narrow-leaved Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon angustifolium) is a shrub that usually grows to about thigh-high and has long, narrow leaves that look wet and sticky. In early summer, the plant produces clusters of small, white, tubular flowers.

Yerba Santa is an uncommon component of vegetation communities on upper bajadas, moderate slopes, and washes in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) life zone. It can, however, be locally abundant.

Family: Waterleaf (Hydrophyllaceae).

Plant Form: Erect perennial shrub.

Height: Usually to about 2-feet tall, to 6 feet.

Bark: Shredded.

Stems: Sticky.

Leaves: Usually linear, but can be coarsely toothed; alternate, leathery; 1-4 inches long; margin rolled under. Upper surface shiny and sticky; lower surface densely hairy.

Flowers: Blooms June to July. Inflorescence terminal. Flowers white, tubular with five petals at right angles to the tube.

Seeds: Black.

Habitat: Dry, well-drained sandy, gravelly, and rocky soils on upper bajadas and moderate slopes, including washes.

Elevation: 5,000 to 6,000 feet.

Distribution: California to Utah, south into Baja California

Comments:

Narrow-leaved Yerba Santa usually is one among many shrub species	Narrow-leaved Yerba Santa occasionally grows alone covering an area



During spring and early summer, leaves are shiny, bright green	During spring and early summer, leaves are shiny, bright green
During spring and early summer, leaves are shiny, bright green	During spring and early summer, leaves are shiny, bright green
During late summer through spring, leaves are dull green	During late summer through spring, leaves are dull green

Sometimes leaves have wavy edges	Dorsal and ventral surfaces of the same leaf
Shiny dorsal surface	Dull, hairy ventral surface
During late summer through spring, leaves are dull green	During late summer through spring, leaves are dull green
Dorsal leaf surface: waxy shiny	Ventral leaf surface: densely hairy between mesh of leaf veins


Stems with gray bark	Stems with gray bark






Narrow-leaved Yerba Santa ripe fruits	Narrow-leaved Yerba Santa ripe fruits
Plant with dried flowers	Dried flowers stand above the plant
Dried flowers	Dried flowers
Dried flowers	Dried flowers

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
; Last updated 231203

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