Stephanomeria pauciflora, Wire Lettuce
City of Rocks State Park, New Mexico
May 20, 2020
Wire Lettuce (aka Few-Flowered Wire Lettuce and Prairie Skeletonplant), Stephanomeria pauciflora, is found along the southern part of this loop walk. The range of this genus is confined to the western United States and northern Mexico. This particular species is found in Sonora and Chihuahua in addition to the range shown on the BONAP map to the right. Skeletonweed, which it may be confused with, is a noxious plant and is in a different genus. This species may hybridize with S. tenuifolia. Like many plants in our desert borderlands, this one has few leaves.
