Arizona Wrightwort
Carlowrightia arizonica
Sketched from specimen observed at South Mountain, Maricopa Co., Arizona. 12 April 1993
FLOWERS: With a conspicuous pair of white wing-petals, these
bilaterally symmetrical flowers look like little butterflies. There are yellow
and purple markings in the throat.
SUBSHRUB: Woody at and just above crown but the plant is often rather
sparse and less than 40 cm tall.
LEAVES: Leaves usu. elyptic and opposite on the stems.
FRUIT: A dry, flattened capsule splitting lengthwise to reveal a number
of seeds.
RANGE: Not uncommon on rocky bajadas at mid elevations in the Sonoran
Desert, but often obscure and hard to find when not in bloom.
UNARMED.