[Fameflowers: The Genus Phemeranthus East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Spinescent Fameflower, Spiny Fameflower

Phemeranthus spinescens

Synonym: Talinum spinescens

The photo above shows a close-up of the flower of spinescent fameflower as seen atop basalt bluffs at Wilson Creek in central Washington........June 25, 2006.

The photo at right shows a wind tossed close-up of the flower of spinescent fameflower as seen at Wilson Creek in central Washington.........June 25, 2006.

Characteristics:

Spinescent fameflower is an attractive perennial wildflower which forms low cushions up to 15 cm wide with clusters of short leafy stems up to 8 mm thick. The leaves are linear, fleshy and rounded in cross-section, and range from 1.5-2.5 cm long and 1-2.5 mm wide. They are deciduous, leaving only the hard basal midrib which form spiny projections along the stem.

The 10-25 flowers are attractive and loosely arranged in ascending cymes 2-15 cm long. The sepals are about 3 mm long while the 5 petals are 7-10 mm long and 5-7 mm wide. The petals are broadly elliptic-obovate in shape and pale to deep rose or a bright crimson-magenta color.

Habitat:

Spinescent fameflower is found on rocky basalt outcrops and in scabland amongst sagebrush.

Range:

Spinescent fameflower may be found from Lincoln, Douglas,Grant and Yakima counties in central Washington south to north-central Oregon.

The photo above shows spinescent fameflower as seen at Wilson Creek in central Washington..........June 25, 2006.

The photo above is a close-up of the clusters of fleshy, linear leaves of spinescent fameflower as seen atop basalt bluffs at Wilson Creek in central Washington.........June 25, 2006.

Spinescent Fameflower, Spiny Fameflower: Phemeranthus spinescens (Synonym: Talinum spinescens)

The photo above shows the basal leaves and stems of spinescent fameflower as seen atop basalt bluffs at Frenchman Coulee, to the east of the Columbia River near Vantage, WA...........June 23, 1997.

Paul Slichter