Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Amsinckia tessellata Gray
(Yellow Fiddleneck, Devil's Lettuce)
Family: Boraginaceae
Status: Native
Synonyms:
None
Amsinckia tessellata is easily recognized by its scorpioid cymes of bright yellow flowers with orangle flame-like markings in the throat. The herbage is densely hairy. The fruit is four identical nutlets with a checkerboard pattern on them. The calyx is made up of 3-4 unequal lobes, the largest of which may be toothed. Amsinckia tessellata is found in arid areas at lower elevation.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
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Amsinckia tessellata, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Burro Mtns., WD Ranch Road, April 20, 2010
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Amsinckia tessellata, much larger plant, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Burro Mtns., CD trail south of Engineer Canyon, April 20, 2010
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Amsinckia tessellata, closeup of scorpioid cyme, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Burro Mtns., WD Ranch Road, April 20, 2010
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Amsinckia tessellata, 1X macro of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Burro Mtns., CD trail south of Engineer Canyon, April 20, 2010
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Amsinckia tessellata, 1X macro of flower, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Burro Mtns., WD Ranch Road, April 20, 2010
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Amsinckia tessellata, measurement of smaller plant, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Burro Mtns., WD Ranch Road, April 20, 2010
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Amsinckia tessellata, closeup of asymmetrical calyx, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Burro Mtns., WD Ranch Road, April 20, 2010
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Amsinckia tessellata, macro of tessellate nutlets, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Burro Mtns., WD Ranch Road, April 20, 2010
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