Scaly-stemmed Sand Plant,
Desert Christmas Tree, Purple Sand Food
Pholisma arenarium
Color: Purple
Common name: Scaly-stemmed Sand Plant, Desert Christmas Tree, Purple Sand Food
Latin name: Pholisma arenarium
Family: LENNOACEAE
Height: 4-8 inches
Description: Pholisma arenarium is a fleshy perennial herb taking a compact cylindrical or ovate shape often with part of the stem below the sandy surface. As a heterotroph which derives its nutrients from other plants, it lacks chlorophyll and is brownish-gray or whitish in color. Flowers emerge between the leaves, each roughly one centimeter wide, the rounded corolla is lavender to deep or bright purple with a white margin.
Leaf: There are whitish-brown hairy, glandular, pointed leaves along the surface of the plant.
Range: Desert, Central Coast, South Coast, Peninsular Ranges
Habitat: Uncommon. Sandy soil, coastal dunes, chaparral, desert
Elevation: < 1900 m.
Flowering time: Apr–Jul, Oct
Notes: Pholisma arenarium is a parasitic plant growing on the roots of various shrubs such as burrobush, Yerba Santa, California croton, rabbitbrush, and ragweeds. This photo was taken on June 1, 2011 in Inyokern, Kern County, California. Pholisma arenarium is a dicot that is native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America.
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Photo tips: Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. More on desert photography.
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