General: Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata) is a perennial forb or subshrub that develops tall (to 5 ft) stalks topped with a showy array of yellow flowers. The leaves are long and oval, but deeply lobed, especially towards the base of the plant. Upper leaves are narrow and may be entire or few-lobed. Petal claws are hairy. In contrast, Panamint Princesplume (Stanleya elata), has broad, entire leaves and the petal claws are smooth.

Desert Princesplume is a fairly common component of vegetation communities in dry, heavy soils on desert flats and on bajadas into the lower mountains in the Lower Sonoran (Creosote-Bursage Flats) and Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zones. Princesplume tends to grow on selenium rich soils and accumulates the mineral in the leaves, making the plant toxic to humans and livestock.

Around Las Vegas, look for Desert Princesplume on the edges of desert mudflats in places such as Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Death Valley National Park, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, and Gold Butte National Monument. Can be found on gravel soils.

Family: Mustard (Brassicaceae); Other Names: Prince's Plume