Krameria species [Krameriaceae]

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Scientific Name Krameria erecta (Krameria glandulosa) USDA PLANTS Symbol KRER
Common Name Littleleaf Ratany ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 503288
Family Krameriaceae (Krameria) SEINet
Reference
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Description Habitat: Desert environments, open hillsides, rocky flats below 3600 ft. (middle elevations in Big Bend).
Plant: Low, woody, much-branched shrub up to 2 feet tall, branches densely covered in fuzzy, white hair. Partial root parasites of nearby plants.
Leaves: Small leaves less than 1/2-inch long, linear to linear-lanceolate, alternate, grayish green, and covered in white hair.
Inflorescence: Single flowers borne at leaf nodes, each 1/2-inch across with 5 small petals and 5 conspicuous petal-like, point-tipped, magenta sepals curled inward or straight; petals are divided into 3 flag petals (yellow-green with reddish tips) and two others around the ovary.
Bloom Period: April to September.
Fruit: Nutlike, ball-shaped and covered in fuzzy, usually pinkish hair and red-brown spines with barbs along the length.
References: www.fireflyforest.com, SEINet, and www.americansouthwest.net.
BONAP Distribution Map

Texas Status:
Native
Scientific Name Krameria grayi (Krameria bicolor) USDA PLANTS Symbol KRGR
Common Name White Ratany ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 897365
Family Krameriaceae (Krameria) SEINet
Reference
Click Here
Description Habitat: Desert environments, lower elevations (below 3600 ft.) in Big Bend.
Plant: Low shrub up to 2 feet tall, numerous slender stems well-branched, densely covered in fuzzy, white hair. Partial root parasites of nearby plants.
Leaves: Small, sparse, leaves are linear to oblong, alternate, grayish green, and covered in white hair.
Inflorescence: Single flowers borne at leaf nodes, each 1/2-inch across with 5 small petals and 5 conspicuous reflexed (bent back), petal-like, point-tipped, magenta sepals; petals are divided into 3 flag petals (yellow-green with reddish tips) and two others around the ovary.
Bloom Period: April to September.
Fruit: Nutlike, ball-shaped and covered in fuzzy, usually pinkish hair and red-brown spines with barbed tips.
References: www.fireflyforest.com, SEINet, and www.americansouthwest.net
BONAP Distribution Map

Texas Status:
Native

© Tom Lebsack 2022