The small flowers of wislizenia refracta form dense, elongated clusters, on a freely-branching plant that inhabits arid, semi-desert locations of the Southwestern states, favoring alkali soils. Flowers have four yellow petals and six longer yellow stamens, projecting well beyond the corolla. The plant blooms gradually, starting with the flowers nearest the base, and the inflorescence can last for several months. Leaves have a distinctive three-segment structure and grow at intervals nearly to the top of the stems. Wislizenia is a monotypic genus.
Common names:
Jackass clover, spectacle fruit
Family:
Scientific name:
Wislizenia refracta
Main flower color:
Range:
South California and south Nevada, east across Arizona, Utah and New Mexico to far west Texas
Height:
Up to 28 inches
Habitat:
Deserts, grassland, roadsides, streambanks
Leaves:
On short stalks, divided into 3 leaflets, each just over an inch long at the base; much smaller towards the tip
Season:
April to September
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