XLargeflower Skeletonplant (Lygodesmia grandiflora)X
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Largeflower Skeletonplant -or- Rushpink -or- Skeleton Plant -or- Showy Rushpink (Lygodesmia grandiflora), family Asteraceae (Sunflower/Aster)
Largeflower Skeletonplant is a commonly found perennial, although within a somewhat restricted range. Colors of the flowers are found in blue, pale almost white, pink, and lavender. The species is the subject of uncertainty as to its botanical classification. Grandiflora is shown on the USDA website as a distinct species, as well as in William Weber's Colorado Flora Western Slope. Weber recognizes three other species as present in the geographic (Southwestern North America) range of grandiflora: juncea, doloresensis, and arizonica. A number of other sources, however, class them as varieties (subspecies) rather than distinct species. Flora of North America indicates: it is probably best to recognize these as varieties pending further investigation.
USES: From the website Native American Ethnobotany are the following uses by Native American tribes: Gosiute - plant used as horse medicine. Navajo, Kayenta - Plant milk applied to sores caused by sunburn. Used for greens in foods. Hopi - Leaves chewed to increase mother's milk supply. Boiled with a certain kind of mush for flavor. Leaves boiled with meat.
Multiple sources list six specific varieties of grandiflora:
Lygodesmia grandiflora var. arizonica
Lygodesmia grandiflora var. dianthopsis
Lygodesmia grandiflora var. doloresensis
Lygodesmia grandiflora var. entrada
Lygodesmia grandiflora var. grandiflora
Lygodesmia grandiflora var. stricta
It is entirely possible that our specimen could be one of these varieties. We do not know which.
Flower -
Plant location: Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge - Colorado - May 31, 2015
Found only in portions of the following United States: AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY. Habitat is mostly desert/arid, specifically openings, adobe flats and alluvial fans. Elevation zone is low - foothills.Plant -
Bloom season: March through May
Foliage -
Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge - Colorado - May 31, 2015
Plant(s) were a scant 5.5 inches tall. -
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Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge - Colorado - May 31, 2015
PHYLLARIES - as described in Flora of North America: 5?12, linear, 15?24 mm, margins scarious (thin, dry, membranous in texture), apices appendaged (faces glabrous (smooth hairless) or scabrous (rough to touch, due to structure of epidermal cells))
Definitions of botanical terms came from the marvelous book by James and Melinda Harris - Plant Identification Terminology. -
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Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge - Colorado - May 31, 2015
Flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects. We believe this macro shows a detailed view of the flowers achene and calyx (pappus) - see page 35, figure 351 of the book Plant Identification Terminology. -
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Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge - Colorado - May 31, 2015
Foliage as described by the Colorado State University Extension website
Leaf Type: simple (not divided into similar parts).
Leaf/Leaflet Shape: linear (flat and narrow with parallel margins). -
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