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Pholisma sonorae

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Photo by Jim A. Bartel, USFWS.


Wild plants by G. Yatskievych, Tropicos.com.


Slightly exposed roots by W.P. Amstrong, Palomar.edu.

Author: George Alfred Yatskievych, 1982
Family:  LENNOACEAE*
Origin:  Sinaloa, Baja California; Mexico, Arizona, California; U.S.A.
Soil:  Sand
Water:  Minimum - Medium
Sun:  Not Really
Thickness:  6 Centimetres
Height:  3 (200) Centimetres
Flower:  White - Pink - Purple
Propagate:  Seeds
Names:  Sand Food
Synonyms:  Ammobroma sonorae, John Torrey, 1854.

This parasitic plant is a member of the Lennoaceae family. It was given this name by George Alfred Yatskievych in 1982. It is found in Sinaloa, Baja California; Mexico and Arizona, California; U.S.A., growing on the roots of other plants (i.e. Eriogonum, Ambrosia, Pluchea and Tiquilia) in sand dunes with little water and no need of sun, as it is a heterotroph; getting the nutrients from its host. The caudex can grow to six centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to 200 centimetres long with the root. The flowers are from white over pink to purple.

The genera name from Latin pholis; 'scale'. The species name for the occurrence in the Sonora desert.

')Accordantly to the latest taxonomic system; APG IV 2016, Lennoaceae is now part of the Boraginaceae.


The flowers by Jim A. Bartel, USFWS.