Yellow Feltplant
Newberry's Velvetmallow
Horsfordia newberryi
Sketched from specimen observed at South Mountain, Maricopa Co., Arizona. 12 April 1993
LEAVES: Thick, velvety leaves are elyptic to wedge-shaped and have a
yellow-green cast. Peculiar, disagreable odor when crushed.
RANGE: Mostly uncommon on rocky bajadas at lower elevations in the
Sonoran Desert. Frost sensitive, thus restricted to warmer regions.
FRUIT: A shizocarp consisting of ten or so carpel segments that split
open separately revealing seeds. Shown enlarged in the illustration.
Eventually each segment separates from the axis with the walls flaring to form
little sails to carry the seed away (below).
The fruit finally divides into a number of segments with dry pappery wings. Hedgepeth Hills, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, May 2011.
FLOWERS: Rather small, yellow to orangish, five-petaled mallow flower.
SHRUB: Several thick woody stems rising to a
meter plus. The bark is rusty yellow in color.
UNARMED.