Pterostegia

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Ordo: Caryophyllales

Familia: Polygonaceae
Subfamilia: Eriogonoideae
Tribus: Pterostegieae
Genus: Pterostegia
Species: P. drymarioides
Name

Pterostegia Fisch. & C.A.Mey. Index Seminum [St.Petersburg (Petropolitanus)] 2: 48. (1836)

monotypic taxon

References

Fischer, F.E.L. von & Meyer, F.E.L. von 1836. Index Seminum [St. Petersburg] 2: 48.
International Plant Names Index. 2017. Pterostegia. Published online. Accessed: Mar. 4 2017.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2017. Pterostegia in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2017 Mar. 4. Reference page.
Tropicos.org 2017. Pterostegia. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2017 Mar. 4.

Vernacular names
English: Woodland Threadstem

Pterostegia is a monotypic plant genus containing only the single species Pterostegia drymarioides, which is known as the woodland threadstem, woodland pterostegia, fairy mist, or fairy bowties.

Distribution

The plant is native to the western United States, California, Baja California, and Northwestern Mexico. The plant is most commonly found carpeting the ground in shady areas, such as in the understory of a cool forest or chaparral woodlands. It sometimes grows hidden from view beneath other plants. It also is found in shaded areas of desert habitats.
Description

Pterostegia drymarioides is a very small annual spreading or climbing plant with very thin, hairy stems. The tiny leaves are lobed or heart-shaped and may be green or pink. The plant may sprawl across the ground in a thin layer or may form small patches here and there.

The plant bears tiny bright pink flowers.
References