Linanthus demissus

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Ordo: Ericales

Familia: Polemoniaceae
Subfamilia: Polemonioideae
Tribus: Phlocideae
Genus: Linanthus
Species: Linanthus demissus
Name

Linanthus demissus (A.Gray) Greene
Synonyms

Gilia demissa A.Gray
Navarretia demissa (A. Gray) Kuntze

Distribution

It is in the Mojave Desert of the southwestern United States, from southeastern California east to Arizona and southern Utah.
References

Pittonia 2(11D): 257 1892.

Links

International Plant Names Index. 2017. Linanthus demissus. Published online. Accessed: Feb. 18 2017.
The Plant List 2013. Linanthus demissus in The Plant List Version 1.1. Published online. Accessed: 2017 Feb. 18.
Tropicos.org 2017. Linanthus demissus. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 18 Feb. 2017.

Vernacular names
English: humble gilia, desertsnow

Linanthus demissus (humble gilia or desertsnow) is a small flowering plant found in the Mojave Desert of the southwestern United States, from southeastern California east to Arizona and southern Utah.

Description

It is an annual plant with decumbent (creeping) growth to 2–10 cm tall with downy stems. The leaves are opposite, 6–10 mm long and 1–2 mm broad, with an acuminate apex. It has fragrant white flowers with petals that twist much like a windmill, just a few millimeters across. A key distinguishing characteristic is the pair of small purple lines or wedges at the base of each corolla lobe.
Habitat

It is inconspicuous when not in flower, and tends to blend in with gravel and rock pebbles. It is found on limestone desert pavements and in sandy washes, and can be found in large numbers around Death Valley National Park and the Mojave National Preserve south of Interstate 15.
References

Jepson Flora: Linanthus demissus
Eastern Mojave Vegetation
Stewart, J. M. (1998). Mojave Desert Wildflowers, p. 32.