About Tetradymia stenolepis Greene
Tetradymia stenolepis Greene is a species of flowering plant in the aster family, commonly called Mojave cottonthorn. It is native to the deserts surrounding the intersection of Arizona, Nevada, and eastern California, where it grows in woodland and scrub habitats on sandy and gravelly substrates. This species is a bushy shrub with many branches coated in woolly white fibers, reaching a maximum height just over one meter. Its narrow leaves are 2 to 3 centimeters long, and harden into straight, sharp spines. Clusters of woolly leaves grow near these spines. The inflorescence holds up to 7 flower heads; each flower head is enveloped by four or five woolly phyllaries. Every head contains up to four or five tubular yellow flowers, each around one centimeter long. Its fruit is a hairy achene that may be nearly 2 centimeters long when including its pappus made of long bristles.
