Polyctenium fremontii
Encyclopedia
Polyctenium fremontii, the Desert Combleaf, is named both in English and Greek for its deeply lobed leaves, which almost appear at a quick glance to be pinnately compound. It takes the other portion of its scientific name from John C. Frémont
. It is a small and compact plant native to the western United States. A close-up look at the leaves reveals forked hairs, and the distal end of the leaf often has a single hair at the very tip. It is a member of the broccoli family
, and the flowers therefore have four petals in the shape of a cross; the petals are white. The flowers appear in clusters at the ends of the stems.
This plant is rather uncommon, but is amongst the first plants of sagebrush country in the inland western U.S. to bloom in spring. It may be found on the banks of seasonal streams and similar places.
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
. It is a small and compact plant native to the western United States. A close-up look at the leaves reveals forked hairs, and the distal end of the leaf often has a single hair at the very tip. It is a member of the broccoli family
Brassicaceae
Brassicaceae, a medium sized and economically important family of flowering plants , are informally known as the mustards, mustard flowers, the crucifers or the cabbage family....
, and the flowers therefore have four petals in the shape of a cross; the petals are white. The flowers appear in clusters at the ends of the stems.
This plant is rather uncommon, but is amongst the first plants of sagebrush country in the inland western U.S. to bloom in spring. It may be found on the banks of seasonal streams and similar places.