Psathyrotes is a genus of North American plants in the sneezeweed tribe within the sunflower family. It contains annual and perennial forbs and low subshrubs native to dry areas of southwestern North America. Common names include turtleback, brittlestem, and fanleaf.
The plants are low, densely branching, hairy, and scaly, with a turpentine-like odor. Leaves are alternate and hairy. The Latin name of the genus (from the Greek psathurotes) refers to the brittleness of the stems.
Species
- Psathyrotes annua <small>(Nutt.) Gray</small> (annual psathyrotes, mealy rosettes, turtleback) - CA NV UT AZ ID
- Synonyms: Bulbostylis annua <small>Nutt.</small>
- Annual or perennial forb
- Psathyrotes pilifera <small>Gray</small> (hairy-beast turtleback, hairybeast brittlestem) - NV UT AZ
- Annual forb
- Psathyrotes ramosissima <small>(Torr.) Gray</small> (velvet rosette, velvet turtleback, turtleback) - NV UT AZ CA, Baja California, Sonora
- Synonyms: Tetradymia ramosissima <small>Torr.</small>
- Annual or perennial forb or subshrub
formerly included
see Peucephyllum Psathyrotopsis Trichoptilium
References
External links