Boerhavia coulteri (Hook.fil.) S.Watson

Taxonomy and Common Name

Boerhavia coulteri is a species of flowering plant in the four o'clock family, commonly known as Coulter's spiderling.

Native Range

It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows particularly in desert areas.

Growth Habit and Stem Size

It is an annual herb that produces an erect or creeping stem that reaches a maximum length of around 70 to 80 centimeters.

Stem Characteristics

The stems are slightly hairy, and have sticky resin glands toward their bases.

Leaf Shape

Its leaves are lance-shaped to somewhat triangular, with pointed tips, and sometimes have wavy or rippled edges.

Leaf Size and Placement

Leaves grow up to 5 centimeters in maximum length, and most grow from the lower half of the plant.

Inflorescence and Flower Details

Its sticky inflorescence is a small cluster of tiny white to pale pink flowers, each of which measures less than two millimeters long.

Fruit Shape and Structure

Its fruit is an elliptical structure a few millimeters in length that has longitudinal ribs.

Fruit Arrangement

Fruits are borne in small clusters.