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Littleleaf Ratany

Krameria erecta Willd. ex Schult.

Common Names

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littleleaf ratany
littleleaf krameria
little-leaf krameria
range ratany
spiny little-leaf krameria
sticky little-leaf krameria
wood ratany
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Cover Value

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More info for the term: cover

Littleleaf ratany provides thermal cover for rattlesnakes (Crotalus spp.) and
the western whiptail (Cnemidophorus tigris) [25]. Small mammals, such
as the Bailey's pocket mouse (Perognathus baileyi), use littleleaf ratany for
hiding cover [26]. For large mammals it provides poor to fair hiding
cover.
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Description

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More info for the terms: fruit, indehiscent, shrub

Littleleaf ratany is a native, long-lived, deciduous, perennial shrub that
grows from 12 to 24 inches (30-60 cm) tall. It is densely branched,
thorny, and drought resistant. The leaves are alternate and pubescent;
flowers are irregular and purple in color; and the fruit is globose,
indehiscent, thick walled, and spiny [14,17,22,33].

The root system is shallow, with 40 percent of the root mass in the top
4 inches (10 cm) of the soil, and spreads horizontally and radially
[36]. The roots form grafts with members of the same or different
species forming protocooperation or a parasitic relationship. These
relationships and the hypothesis that littleleaf ratany obtains atmospheric
moisture through its foliage may explain how it can maintain active
growth after soil moisture has dropped below 3 percent [35].
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Distribution

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Littleleaf ratany is found in the arid regions of the southwestern United
States and northern Mexico. It occurs from southern California east to
western Texas and from southern Nevada and Utah south to northern Mexico
[17,34].
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Fire Ecology

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More info for the terms: fire regime, root crown

Littleleaf ratany sprouts from the root crown after fire [9].

FIRE REGIMES :
Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this
species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under
"Find FIRE REGIMES".
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Growth Form (according to Raunkiær Life-form classification)

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More info for the term: phanerophyte

Phanerophyte
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat characteristics

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Littleleaf ratany's habitat is the desert environs, where it occupies open,
sandy to rocky flats, bajadas, and playas [17,31].

Soil: Littleleaf ratany occurs in Alfisol, Aridisol, and Entisol soil orders
[12].

Climate: Littleleaf ratany inhabits areas where the winters are short and
mild, and the summers are long and hot. Precipitation is received
primarily in the fall and winter in the northern portion of its range
and in the summer in the southern portion. The annual precipitation is
8 to 25 inches (20-65 cm) [8,9].

Elevation: Littleleaf ratany generally grows at elevations ranging from 500
to 5,000 feet (150-1,500 m) [34].
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Cover Types

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This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):

66 Ashe juniper - redberry (Pinchot) juniper
67 Mohrs ("shin") oak
68 Mesquite
220 Rocky Mountain juniper
239 Pinyon - juniper
241 Western live oak
242 Mesquite
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Ecosystem

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This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

More info for the term: shrub

FRES30 Desert shrub
FRES32 Texas savanna
FRES33 Southwestern shrubsteppe
FRES34 Chaparral - mountain shrub
FRES35 Pinyon - juniper
FRES40 Desert grasslands
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Plant Associations

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This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):

More info for the terms: cactus, shrub, woodland

KO23 Juniper - pinyon woodland
KO31 Oak - juniper woodland
KO33 Chaparral
KO39 Blackbrush
K041 Creosotebush
K042 Creosotebush - bursage
K043 Paloverde - cactus shrub
KO44 Creosote bush - tarbush
KO45 Ceniza shrub
KO58 Grama - tobosa shrubsteppe
KO59 Trans-Pecos shrub savanna
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Immediate Effect of Fire

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Littleleaf ratany is top-killed by fire [9]. Information on fire effects on
this species is lacking.
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Importance to Livestock and Wildlife

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More info for the term: cover

Littleleaf ratany is an important forage species for all classes of livestock
and for deer (Odocoileus spp.) [6]. It also provides cover for small
mammals and reptiles [25,26].

In Arizona littleleaf ratany is an important component in the diet of deer.
It comprises approximately 10 percent of white-tailed deer's (O.
virginianus) diet and 23 percent of mule deer's (O. hemionus) diet
[2,3].
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Key Plant Community Associations

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More info for the terms: association, shrub, tree

Littleleaf ratany commonly occurs in the understory of catclaw acacia (Acacia
greggii), Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia), juniper (Juniperus spp.),
pinyon pine (Pinus edulis), and shrub live oak (Quercus turbinella)
[9,28,31]. In the shrub layer, littleleaf ratany is associated with
creosotebush (Larrea spp.) and white bursage (Ambrosia dumosa) [5].

Littleleaf ratany is listed as a dominant in the chaparral plant association
classification of Arizona by Carmichael and others [9].
license
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Life Form

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More info for the term: shrub

Shrub
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Management considerations

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Littleleaf ratany decreases in response to heavy grazing [7]. Judd [16]
suggests that 25 to 50 percent of the current year's growth be used on a
well-grazed range. Beyond 50 percent littleleaf ratany is receiving too much
grazing pressure.
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Nutritional Value

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Krausman and others [18] reported the bimonthly nutritional value
(percent composition) of littleleaf ratany as follows:

Dry Cell Hemi-
matter Protein Lignin soluble Cellulose cellulose

Jan. 66.11 5.81 10.33 37.63 31.60 20.62
March 58.75 5.79 9.63 39.14 29.65 21.62
May 58.42 6.58 9.36 45.64 23.69 21.09
July 62.35 7.87 11.74 40.68 27.84 19.57
Sept. 52.37 7.30 11.16 39.46 29.67 19.86
Nov. 60.63 6.28 11.16 39.34 24.52 23.28

The in-vitro digestibility of littleleaf ratany varies with the species of
deer. Mule deer are able to utilize 40 percent of it while white-tailed
deer only utilize 31 percent [30].
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Occurrence in North America

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AZ CA NV NM TX UT MEXICO
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Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Other uses and values

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
The Papago Indians used an infusion of the twigs externally for treating
sore eyes and internally for dysentery. The roots provided them with a
red dye for wool and other materials. The dye was also used as an ink
[19,24].
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Palatability

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Palatability of littleleaf ratany is rated fair to good for cattle and sheep
[16]. Mule and white-tailed deer browse littleleaf ratany year-long with
seasonal peaks. Mule deer peak use is from February to April and from
August to October, and white-tailed deer peak use is from August to
October [2,3].

The relish and degree of use shown by livestock and wildlife species for
littleleaf ratany in several western states is rated as follows
[2,16,24,29,30]:

AZ NM NV TX UT
Cattle fair fair fair fair fair
Sheep good good good good good
Mule deer good good good good good
White-tailed deer fair fair fair fair fair
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Phenology

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More info on this topic.

Compared to associated species, littleleaf ratany remains dormant for at
least a month longer in the spring and retains its leaves for up to 2
months longer in the fall [1,35].

The mean dates and one standard deviation [(SD) in days] of the
phenological development of littleleaf ratany are as follows [27]:

Development Date SD
---------------------------------------------------------------
Leaf budding April 7 +/- 4.5
flowering May 5 +/- 4.6
Fruiting May 22 +/- 4.6

The phenological development of littleleaf ratany is based primarily on the
temperature regime and secondarily on the moisture regime [4,27]. It
does not go dormant during the summer no matter how dry the soil. Range
ratany can photosynthesize when its water potential is at negative 72
bars. Dormancy starts when night temperatures consistently drop below
40 degrees F (4 deg C) [1].
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Plant Response to Fire

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More info for the terms: root crown, top-kill

Littleleaf ratany sprouts from the root crown following top-kill by fire
[9].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Post-fire Regeneration

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More info for the terms: caudex, root crown, seed

survivor species; on-site surviving root crown or caudex
off-site colonizer; seed carried by animals or water; postfire yr 1&2
license
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Regeneration Processes

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More info for the term: seed

Littleleaf ratany reproduces sexually by seed. In years with high soil
moisture it will flower twice, in the spring and again in the fall
[31].
license
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Regional Distribution in the Western United States

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This species can be found in the following regions of the western United States (according to the Bureau of Land Management classification of Physiographic Regions of the western United States):

6 Upper Basin and Range
7 Lower Basin and Range
12 Colorado Plateau
13 Rocky Mountain Piedmont
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Successional Status

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More info for the terms: climax, shrub

Littleleaf ratany is a component of some climax desert shrub communities
[37]. It is a dominant in the shrub live oak-mixed shrub and shrub live
oak-birchleaf mountain-mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber) plant
associations [9].
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Synonyms

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
Krameria glandulosa Rose & Painter
Krameria imparata (J.F. Macbr.) Britton
Krameria parvifolia Benth.
Krameria parvifolia Benth. var. glandulosa (Rose & Painter) J.F. Macbr.
Krameria parvifolia Benth. var. imparata J.F. Macbr.
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Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Taxonomy

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The currently accepted scientific name of littleleaf ratany is Krameria
erecta Willd. ex Schult. (Krameriaceae) [32].
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bibliographic citation
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1991. Krameria erecta. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Comprehensive Description

provided by North American Flora
Krameria erecta Wilid.; R. & vS. Syst. Veg. Mant. 3: 303. 1827
Krameria rosmarinifoUa Pavon; Chodat. Arch. Sci. Phy-s. III. 24; 499. 1890. Krameria Palmeri Rose, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 1: 304. 1895.
A much-branched, compact shrub, 6-9 dm. high, the very slender twigs and the young Jeaves strigose. Leaves linear, sessile, 6-15 mm. long, obtuse or acutish, strigose or nearly or quite glabrous when mature; peduncles about as long as the leaves or longer, the bracts small; sepals oblong, obtuse, about 6 mm. long; lower petals broadly obovate, 2 mm. long; upper petals 4-5 mm. long, united below the middle, the limb of the middle one expanded, those of the lateral ones dilated; stamens borne on the claw of the upper petals; fruit globose, entirely glabrous, the body about 8 mm. in diameter, slightly compressed, the subulate spines about 3 mm. long, naked.
Type locality: Not cited. Distribution: Sonora and Sinaloa.
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Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose. 1928. (ROSALES); MIMOSACEAE. North American flora. vol 23(1). New York Botanical Garden, New York, NY
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Comprehensive Description

provided by North American Flora
Krameria glandulosa Rose &. Painter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 10: 108. 1906.
Krameria parvifolia A. Gray, PI. Wright. 1: 41. 1852. Not Benth. 1844. Krameria parvifolia glandulosa T. Macbride, Contr. Gray Herb. II. 56: 52. 1918.
A much-branched shrub, 3-7 dm. high, the slender twigs strigose-canescent. Leaves linear, sessile, obtuse, or acute, appressed-canescent or strigose, 4-12 mm. long; peduncles slender, 6-15 mm. long, appressed-canescent or strigose, stipitate-glandular, the bracts foliaceous, also often glandular; sepals 5, purple, strigose, 6-7 mm. long, obtuse or acute, the outer ones more or less stipitate-glandular; lower petals cuneate-obovate, about 3 mm. long; upper petals 4-5 mm. long, united for nearly one-half their length, the blade of the middle one oblong, acute, those of the lateral ones obliquely ovate; stamens borne on the claw of the upper petals; fruit globular, the Ijody 6-7 mm. in diameter, rather densely strigose, the aeicular spines mostly barbless.
Type locality: El Paso, Texas.
Distribution: Texas to New Mexico. Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Sonora and California.
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Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose. 1928. (ROSALES); MIMOSACEAE. North American flora. vol 23(1). New York Botanical Garden, New York, NY
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Comprehensive Description

provided by North American Flora
Krameria parvifolia Bentli. Bot. Voy. Sulphur 6. 1844
A much-branched [glandular shrub, the short twigs strigose. Leaves linear, sessile, about 10 mm. long, or shorter, strigose, obtuse or acute; peduncles slender, mostly longer than the leaves, the bracts linear, short; sepals narrowly oblong, S-10 mm. long, obtiuish, sparingly strigose; lower petals truncate, nearly rectangular, smooth, 3 mm. long; upper petals 4-5 mm. long, connate near the base, the claw very short, the limb of the middle one oblong, those of the lateral ones expanded; stamens borne on the claw of the upper petals; fruit subglobose, somewhat compressed, sometimes blimt-pointed, the body about 8 mm. in diameter, rather sparingly strigose, the aeicular sp'nes about 3 mm. long, sparingly barbed.
Type locality: Bay of Magdalena, Lower California. Distribution: Southern Lower California.
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Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose. 1928. (ROSALES); MIMOSACEAE. North American flora. vol 23(1). New York Botanical Garden, New York, NY
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Comprehensive Description

provided by North American Flora
Krameria interior Rose & Painter; Rose, Contr. U. S. Nat Herb. 10: 108. 1906.
A much-branched shrub, about 3 dm. high, or higher, the slender, nearly straight twigs densely strigose. Leaves linear, sharply acute, sessile, 1-2 cm. long, strigose on both sides; peduncles hirsute, about as long as the leaves, or shorter, the bracts similar to the leaves; fruit globose, the body 7-8 mm. in diameter, densely tomentose, the sul)ulate-acicular spines about 6 mm. long, barbed above the middle.
Type locality: San Juan Capistravo, Zacatecas. Distribution: Known only from the type locality.
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Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose. 1928. (ROSALES); MIMOSACEAE. North American flora. vol 23(1). New York Botanical Garden, New York, NY
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Comprehensive Description

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Krameria imparata (T. Macbride) Britton
Krameria parvifolia imparata T. Macbride. Contr. Gray Herb. II. 56: 52. 191S.
A low, eglandular, usually much-branched shrub, the twigs appressed-sericeous. Leaves linear, sessile, acute or obtuse, appressed-sericeous, 2-12 mm. long; peduncles slender, sericeous, about 15 mm. long, or shorter, the bracts foliaceous; sepals 5, sericeous, oblong or oblonglanceolate, obtuse or acute, 6-1 1 mm. long; lower petals elliptic to cuneate-obovate, subtruncate, 2.5-3 mm. long; upper petals about 4 mm. long, united below into a short claw, the limb of the middle one oblong, those of the lateral ones obliquely ovate, the stamens borne on the claw; fruit densely strigose, the aeicular spines strongly barbed nearly throughout.
Type locality: Mountain Springs, California.
Distribution: I'tuh (according to Macbride); Nevada to Arizona, California and Sonora.
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Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose. 1928. (ROSALES); MIMOSACEAE. North American flora. vol 23(1). New York Botanical Garden, New York, NY
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Krameria erecta

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Krameria erecta is a species of rhatany known by several common names, including Pima rhatany, purple heather, and littleleaf rhatany. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in dry areas such as desert flats and chaparral slopes. This is a small, tangled shrub under a meter in height with blunt, thorny branches covered in silky hairs and fuzzy linear leaves. The shrub flowers in the spring and again in the fall during wetter years. The showy flower has four or five bright pink cup-shaped sepals and usually five smaller, triangular petals which are pink with green bases. The three upper petals are held erect and the lower two are glandular structures next to the ovary. Next to these are four curving stamens. The fruit is a furry heart-shaped body covered in pink spines. It reproduces by seed. This species and others in its genus are root parasites, tapping the tissues of nearby plants for nutrients, especially water. This helps it survive in soil that is almost totally dry.

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Krameria erecta: Brief Summary

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Krameria erecta is a species of rhatany known by several common names, including Pima rhatany, purple heather, and littleleaf rhatany. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in dry areas such as desert flats and chaparral slopes. This is a small, tangled shrub under a meter in height with blunt, thorny branches covered in silky hairs and fuzzy linear leaves. The shrub flowers in the spring and again in the fall during wetter years. The showy flower has four or five bright pink cup-shaped sepals and usually five smaller, triangular petals which are pink with green bases. The three upper petals are held erect and the lower two are glandular structures next to the ovary. Next to these are four curving stamens. The fruit is a furry heart-shaped body covered in pink spines. It reproduces by seed. This species and others in its genus are root parasites, tapping the tissues of nearby plants for nutrients, especially water. This helps it survive in soil that is almost totally dry.

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