Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Purshia stansburiana (Torrey) Henrickson
(Cliffrose)

Family: Rosaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Cowania mexicana D. Don var. stansburiana (Torrey) Jepson
Cowania stansburiana Torrey
Purshia mexicana (D. Don) Welsh var. stansburiana (Torrey) Welsh

Purshia stansburiana is a shrub of dry hillsides and roadsides at middle elevation. Large stands may burst into flower all at one time. The new year's branches are reddish. The leaveas are fascicled, white glandular dotted and three lobed toward the apex. The fruit bears a long plumose tail. Purshia stansburiana bears a resemblance to Fallugia paradoxa, but Purshia stansburiana usually has a single trunk while Fallugia paradoxa is branched from the base. The plumes also look considerably different when in fruit.
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Pursha stansburiana, photo Russ Kleinman, Mogollon Mtns., Rte. 180 near Pleasanton, Apr. 19, 2008



Pursha stansburiana, detail of branch, photo Russ Kleinman, Mogollon Mtns., Rte. 180 near Pleasanton, Apr. 19, 2008



Pursha stansburiana, detail of flower, photo Russ Kleinman, Mogollon Mtns., Rte. 180 near Pleasanton, Apr. 19, 2008



Pursha stansburiana, in fruit, photo Russ Kleinman, Mogollon Mtns., Rte. 180 near Pleasanton, May 10, 2008



Pursha stansburiana, closeup of flower, photo Russ Kleinman & Carey Anne Lafferty, Mogollon Mtns., Rte. 180 near Pleasanton, Oct. 22, 2008



Pursha stansburiana, fruit, photo Elroy Limmer, Silver City, August 24, 2008



Pursha stansburiana, flower, photo Elroy Limmer, Silver City, June 23, 2005



Pursha stansburiana, fruit, photo Elroy Limmer, Silver City, June 23, 2005



Pursha stansburiana, closeup of fascicled, lobed & glandular dotted leaves, photo Russ Kleinman, Mogollon Mtns., Rte. 180 near Pleasanton, January 15, 2010



Pursha stansburiana, closeup of flower pollinated by bee, photo Russ Kleinman, Harden Cienega, May 3, 2010



Pursha stansburiana, closeup of flower pollinated by bee, photo Russ Kleinman, Harden Cienega, May 3, 2010



Pursha stansburiana, closeup of flower pollinated by fly imitating a bee, photo Russ Kleinman, Harden Cienega, May 3, 2010


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