Vegetation Around Las Vegas, Thurber's Sandpaper Plant (Petalonyx thurberi)

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Thurber's Sandpaper Plant (Petalonyx thurberi)
Shrubs Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas

General: Thurber's Sandpaper Plant (Petalonyx thurberi) is an upright shrub growing to about 5-feet tall with stiff stems and small, triangular leaves. The stems and leaves are covered with short, stiff hairs giving the plant a rough feel (somewhat like sandpaper). The flowers are white; petals are fused at the base; stamens very long and originate outside the petals.

Thurber's Sandpaper Plant is a common component of vegetation communities in sandy soils in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zone.

Family: Loasa (Loasaceae).

Other Names:

Stiff, triangular leaves

Plant Form: Upright shrub.

Height: To about 5 feet.

Bark: White.

Stems: Upright, spreading, stiff.

Leaves: Triangular; surface rough with stiff hairs (feels like sandpaper or velcro).

White flowers with very long stamens

Flowers: Inflorescence: terminal raceme. Flowers: cream; petals about 1/2 inch long, fused at the base; stamens extent well beyond petals.

Seeds:

Habitat: Sandy and gravelly soils in washes, bajadas, and canyons.

Elevation: To about 4,000 feet.

Distribution: California, Nevada, and Arizona.

Comments:

Thurber's Sandpaper Plant in Gold Butte National Monument	Thurber's Sandpaper Plant in bloom
Small Thurber's Sandpaper Plant in bloom	Thurber's Sandpaper Plant during winter

Stems with rough hairs	Stiff hairs
Cauline leaves with rough hairs, oblong, and with petioles	Upper leaves are rough hairy and triangular without petioles
Thurber's Sandpaper Plant leaf, upper surface	Thurber's Sandpaper Plant leaf, upper surface
Thurber's Sandpaper Plant leaf, lower surface	Thurber's Sandpaper Plant leaf, lower surface
Branch with flowers	Branch with flowers
Flowers	Stamens very long

Stamens originate outside the corolla tube	Stamens originate outside the corolla tube
Thurber's Sandpaper Plant during winter	Thurber's Sandpaper Plant during winter
Thurber's Sandpaper Plant during winter	Thurber's Sandpaper Plant during winter

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
; Last updated 241202

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