Calyptridium arizonicum

Arizona pussypaws

Family: Montiaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1

Arizona pussypaws is a rare (CNPS 2B.1) California native annual found in western Desert Southwest region in the northern Pinyon Mountain area of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in coarse, well-drained desert scrub at elevations of 600 to 800 meters. Flowering from March to April, this delicate plant produces small white to pink flowers in compact axillary clusters. Growing with a slender taproot and reaching just 2 to 11 centimeters tall, it forms a diminutive and unassuming desert herb. Its leaves are both basal and along the stem, typically 1 to 3 centimeters long, with basal leaves often withering by fruiting time. The fruit is 6 to 7 millimeters long and notably exserted from the widely reniform sepals with scarious margins.

Habitat: Coarse, well-drained soils in desert scrub, wash

Bloom period: Mar-Apr

Elevation: 600-800 m

Bioregions: w DSon (northern Pinyon Mtn area in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park)

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.