List of flora of the Mojave Desert region
This list of flora of the Mojave Desert region catalogs the particular plants of the Mojave Desert and of the mountains that encircle the Mojave Desert, including the Little San Bernardino Mountains that divide the Mojave Desert from the Colorado Desert. Some flora grows well above the elevational limit of Yucca brevifolia. The elevational limit of the Joshua tree delimits the Mojave Desert.
The flora herein is arranged in several sublists to accommodate the various interests among readers; the sublists are arranged a) alphabetically by scientific name; b) alphabetically by plant family and then by scientific name; c) by growth pattern by flower color alphabetically by common name.
Each entry in the alphabetical list by scientific name is followed by the common name, plant family, growth form, flower color, and a brief note on the etymology of the components of the scientific name.
List by scientific name
A
- Abronia nana S. Watson var. covillei; ; Nyctaginaceae; perennial herb; white, lavender, pink flowers; June–August bloom; "Abronia" from Greek "abros" = "graceful or delicate" re bracts below flowers, "nana" = "small" from the Greek "nannos" = "dwarf"
- Abronia pogonantha, Nyctaginaceae; "Abronia" from Greek "abros" = "graceful or delicate", Greek "pogon" = "beard" & "anthus" = "flowered" -> "pogonantha" = "bearded flowers"
- Abronia villosa var. villosa, Nyctaginaceae four o'clock family; "Abronia" from Greek "abros" = "graceful or delicate", "villosa" = "hairy"
- Acacia greggii
- Acamptopappus shockleyi ; Asteraceae; Greek "a-kamptos" = "not-bent" & "pappos" = "pappus" -> "acamptopappus" = "unbent pappus", "shockleyi" = William Hillman Shockley - first to collect plants in the White Mountains
- Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus ; Asteraceae; Greek "a-kamptos" = "not-bent" & "pappos" = "pappus" -> "acamptopappus" = "unbent pappus", Greek "sphaero" = "sphere", "cephalis" = "Head" -> or "round-headed"
- Achyronychia cooperi, Caryophyllaceae
- Acmispon americanus, Fabaceae; Greek "acme" = "point or edge" for hook-tipped fruit, "americanus" = "of America"
- Acmispon argophyllus, Fabaceae; Greek "acme" = "point or edge" for hook-tipped fruit of genus type, "argos" "shining, bright, silver" -> "argophyllus" = "silver leaved"
- Acmispon brachycarpus, Fabaceae; Greek "acme" = "point or edge" for hook-tipped fruit of genus type, "brachy" = "short", "karpos" = "fruit" -> "brachycarpus" = "short-bodied "
- Acmispon glaber, Fabaceae; Greek "acme" = "point or edge" for hook-tipped fruit of genus type, -> "glaber" = "without hairs", glabrous
- Acmispon tomentosus var. glabriusculus Fabaceae; Greek "acme" = "point or edge" for hook-tipped fruit of genus type
- Acmispon rigidus, Fabaceae; Greek "acme" = "point or edge" for hook-tipped fruit of genus type,
- Adenophyllum cooperi, Asteraceae
- Aliciella latifolia, Polemoniaceae
- Allenrolfea occidentalis, Chenopodiaceae
- Allionia incarnata, Nyctaginaceae
- Alnus rhombifolia, Betulaceae
- Amaranthus fimbriatus, Amaranthaceae
- Ambrosia acanthicarpa, Asteraceae
- Ambrosia dumosa, Asteraceae
- Ambrosia salsola, Asteraceae
- Amsinckia tessellata, Boraginaceae
- Amsonia tomentosa, Apocynaceae
- Anemopsis californica, Saururaceae
- Anisocoma acaulis, Asteraceae
- Arabis dispar
- Arabis pulchra var. gracilis
- Argemone corymbosa, Papaveraceae
- Arctostaphylos glauca, big berry manzanita
- Argemone munita, Papaveraceae
- Arida arizonica, Asteraceae
- Artemisia douglasiana, Asteraceae
- Artemisia dracunculus, Asteraceae
- Artemisia ludoviciana, Asteraceae
- Artemisia tridentata, Asteraceae
- Asclepias albicans,, Apocynaceae
- Asclepias erosa, Apocynaceae
- Asclepias fascicularis, Apocynaceae
- Aster subulatus
- Astragalus coccineus, Fabaceae, perennial herb, red, "astragalos" = "ankle bone" for the shape of the seed, "coccineus" = "scarlet"
- Astragalus douglasii, Fabaceae
- Astragalus jaegerianus, Fabaceae
- Astragalus layneae, Fabaceae
- Astragalus lentiginosus, Fabaceae
- Astragalus newberryi var. newberryi, Fabaceae
- Atrichoseris platyphylla, Asteraceae
- Atriplex canescens, Chenopodiaceae, "canescens" = "covered with short white hairs"
- Atriplex confertifolia, Chenopodiaceae
- Atriplex covillei, Chenopodiaceae
- Atriplex elegans, Chenopodiaceae
- Atriplex hymenelytra, Chenopodiaceae
- Atriplex polycarpa, Chenopodiaceae
- Atriplex serenana, Chenopodiaceae
- Atriplex spinifera, Chenopodiaceae
B
- Baccharis salicifolia, Asteraceae
- Baccharis salicina, Asteraceae
- Baccharis sergiloides, Asteraceae
- Baileya multiradiata
- Baileya pauciradiata, Asteraceae
- Baileya pleniradiata, Asteraceae
- Bebbia juncea var. aspera, Asteraceae
- Boechera dispar, Brassicaceae
- Boerhavia triquetra, Nyctaginaceae
- Bouteloua aristidoides, Poaceae
- Bouteloua barbata, Poaceae
- Brandegea bigelovii, Cucurbitaceae
- Brassica tournefortii, Brassicaceae
- Brickellia californica, Asteraceae
- Brickellia desertorum, Asteraceae
- Brickellia incana, Asteraceae
- Brickellia longifolia, Asteraceae
- Brickellia oblongifolia var. linifolia, Asteraceae
- Bromus madritensis, Poaceae
- Buddleja utahensis, Scrophulariaceae
C
- Calochortus kennedyi var. kennedyi, Liliaceae
- Calochortus striatus, Liliaceae
- Calycoseris parryi, Asteraceae
- Calycoseris wrightii, Asteraceae
- Calyptridium monandrum, Montiaceae
- Camissonia campestris, Onagraceae
- Camissoniopsis pallida subsp. hallii, Hall's suncup Onagraceae
- Camissoniopsis pallida ssp. pallida, Onagraceae
- Canbya candida, Papaveraceae
- Castela emoryi, Simaroubaceae
- Castilleja chromosa, Orobanchaceae
- Castilleja exserta ssp. venusta, Orobanchaceae
- Castilleja plagiotoma, Orobanchaceae
- Caulanthus inflatus, Brassicaceae
- Centrostegia thurberi, Polygonaceae
- Chaenactis fremontii, Asteraceae
- Chaenactis macrantha, Asteraceae
- Chaenactis stevioides, Asteraceae
- Chamomilla suaveolens, Asteraceae
- Chamaesyce albomarginata
- Chamaesyce setiloba
- Chrysothamnus nauseosus, Pteridaceae, Greek "cheilos" ="lip", "anthos" = "flower" for lip-like membrane covering spore-bearing parts, "coillei" for botanist Frederick Vernon Coville
- Chenopodium californicum, Chenopodiaceae
- Chilopsis linearis, Bignoniaceae
- Chorizanthe brevicornu var. brevicornu, Polygonaceae, "chorizo" = "divided", "anthos" = "flower", "brevi" = "short", "cornu" = "horn"
- Chorizanthe rigida, Polygonaceae, "chorizo" = "divided", "anthos" = "flower", rigida = stiff or rigid leaves
- Chylismia brevipes, Onagraceae
- Chylismia claviformis, Onagraceae
- Cirsium mohavense, Asteraceae
- Cirsium neomexicanum, Asteraceae
- Cleomella obtusifolia, Cleomaceae
- Coleogyne ramosissima, Rosaceae
- Collinsia bartsiifolia var. davidsonii, Plantaginaceae
- Cordylanthus eremicus, Asteraceae
- Coreopsis bigelovii, Cactaceae, Greek "koryphe" = "apex", "anthos" = "flower"
- Coryphantha alversonii, Cactaceae
- Coryphantha vivipara, Cactaceae
- Croton californicus, Euphorbiaceae
- Cryptantha circumscissa, Boraginaceae
- Cryptantha angustifolia, Boraginaceae
- Cryptantha intermedia, Boraginaceae
- Cryptantha maritima, Boraginaceae
- Cryptantha micrantha, Boraginaceae
- Cryptantha nevadensis, Boraginaceae
- Cryptantha pterocarva, Boraginaceae
- Cryptantha spp., Boraginaceae
- Cucurbita palmata, Cucurbitaceae
- Cuscuta denticulata, Convolvulaceae
- Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. coloradensis, Cactaceae
- Cylindropuntia echinocarpa, Cactaceae
- Cylindropuntia ramosissima, Cactaceae
- Cymopterus deserticola, Apiaceae
- Cymopterus terebinthinus,, Apiaceae
- ''Cynanchum utahense''
D
- Dalea mollissima, Fabaceae
- Dasyochloa pulchella, Poaceae
- Datura wrightii, Solanaceae
- Dedeckera eurekensis, Polygonaceae
- Deinandra arida, Asteraceae
- Delphinium parishii, Ranunculaceae
- Dipterostemon capitatus ssp. pauciflorus, Themidaceae
- Dicoria canescens, Asteraceae, "canescens" = "covered with short white hairs"
- Dieteria canescens, Asteraceae, "canescens" = "covered with short white hairs"
- Distichlis spicata, Poaceae
- Dithyrea californica, Brassicaceae
- Dudleya saxosa ssp. aliodes, Crassulaceae
- Dudleya saxosa ssp. saxosa, Crassulaceae
E
- Echinocactus polycephalus, synonym of Homalocephala polycephala, Cactaceae
- Echinocereus engelmannii, Cactaceae
- Echinocereus mojavensis, Cactaceae
- Encelia actoni, Asteraceae
- Encelia farinosa, Asteraceae
- Encelia frutescens, Asteraceae
- Encelia virginensis, Asteraceae
- Enceliopsis covillei, Asteraceae
- Enceliopsis nudicaulis var. nudicaulis, Asteraceae
- Ephedra californica, Ephedraceae
- Ephedra nevadensis, Ephedraceae
- Ephedra funerea, Ephedraceae
- Ephedra trifurca, Ephedraceae
- Ephedra viridis, Ephedraceae
- Equisetum laevigatum, Equisetaceae
- Eremalche exilis, Malvaceae
- Eremalche rotundifolia, Malvaceae
- Eremothera boothii subsp. condensata, Onagraceae
- Eremothera boothii subsp. desertorum, Onagraceae
- Eremothera refracta, Onagraceae, "eremia" = "desert", "refracta" = "broken"
- Eriastrum densifolium, Polemoniaceae
- Ericameria cooperi, Asteraceae
- Ericameria cuneata var. spathulata, Asteraceae
- Ericameria laricifolia, Asteraceae
- Ericameria linearifolia, Asteraceae
- Ericameria nauseosa var. mohavensis, Asteraceae
- Ericameria paniculata, Asteraceae
- Erigeron concinnus, Asteraceae
- Erigeron foliosus, Asteraceae
- Eriodictyon angustifolium, Boraginaceae
- Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx, Boraginaceae
- Eriogonum deflexum, Polygonaceae
- Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium, Polygonaceae
- Eriogonum inflatum, Polygonaceae
- Eriogonum plumatella, Polygonaceae
- Eriogonum palmerianum, Polygonaceae
- Eriophyllum mohavense, Asteraceae
- Eriophyllum pringlei, Asteraceae
- Eriophyllum wallacei, Asteraceae
- Erodium cicutarium, Geraniaceae
- Erodium texanum, Geraniaceae
- Eschscholzia androuxii, Papaveraceae
- Eschscholzia californica, Papaveraceae
- Eschscholzia glyptosperma, Papaveraceae
- Eschscholzia minutiflora, Papaveraceae
- Eschscholzia papastillii, Papaveraceae
- Eucnide urens, Loasaceae
- Euphorbia albomarginata, Euphorbiaceae
- Euphorbia schizoloba, Euphorbiaceae
- Euphorbia setiloba, Euphorbiaceae
- Euthamia occidentalis, Asteraceae
F
- Fagonia laevis, Zygophyllaceae
- Fallugia paradoxa, Rosaceae
- Ferocactus cylindraceus, Cactaceae
- Festuca octoflora, Poaceae
- Funastrum cynanchoides, Apocynaceae
- Funastrum hirtellum, Apocynaceae
G
- Geraea canescens, Asteraceae, "canescens" = "covered with short white hairs"
- Gilia latiflora, Polemoniaceae
- Gilmania luteola, Polygonaceae
- Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Fabaceae
- Glyptopleura setulosa, Asteraceae
- Gnaphalium palustre, Asteraceae
- Grusonia parishii, Cactaceae, yellow flowers
- Grayia spinosa, Chenopodiaceae
- Gutierrezia microcephala, Asteraceae
H
- Hecastocleis shockleyi, Asteraceae
- Heliotropium curassavicum, Boraginaceae
- Hesperocallis undulata), Agavaceae, "hesperos" = "western", "undulate" = "wavy margined "
- Hesperoyucca whipplei), Agavaceae
- Hibiscus denudatus, Malvaceae
- Hilaria rigida, Poaceae
- Holmgrenanthe petrophila, Plantaginaceae
- Hulsea vestita ssp. parryi, Asteraceae
- Hyptis emoryi, Fabaceae
- ''Hymenoclea salsola''
I
J
K
- Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla, Plantaginaceae
- Keckiella rothrockii, Plantaginaceae
- Krameria erecta, Krameriaceae
- Krameria bicolor, Krameriaceae
- Krascheninnikovia lanata, Chenopodiaceae
L
- Lactuca serriola, Asteraceae
- Langloisia setosissima subsp. punctata, Polemoniaceae, "setosissima" = "very hairy bristly"
- Langloisia setosissima subsp. setosissima, Polemoniaceae
- Larrea tridentata, Zygophyllaceae
- Lasthenia gracilis, Asteraceae
- Layia glandulosa, Asteraceae
- Lepidium flavum var. flavum, Brassicaceae
- Lepidium fremontii, Brassicaceae
- Lepidium lasiocarpum, Brassicaceae
- Lepidospartum latisquamum, Asteraceae
- Lepidospartum squamatum, Asteraceae
- Leptosiphon breviculus, Polemoniaceae
- Leptosyne bigelovii, Asteraceae
- Linanthus dichotomus, Polemoniaceae
- Linanthus maculatus, Polemoniaceae
- Linanthus parryae, Polemoniaceae
- Linum lewisii, Linaceae
- Loeseliastrum matthewsii, Polemoniaceae
- Loeseliastrum schottii, Polemoniaceae
- Logfia filaginoides, Asteraceae
- Lomatium mohavense, Apiaceae
- Lotus argophyllus
- Lotus humistratus
- Lotus strigosus (name changed to Acmispon strigosus
M
- Malacothrix coulteri, Asteraceae
- Malacothrix glabrata, Asteraceae
- Marah fabaceus, Cucurbitaceae
- marah macrocarpus, Cucurbitaceae
- Mammillaria tetrancistra, Cactaceae
- Marina parryi, Fabaceae
- Menodora scabra var. glabrescens, Oleaceae
- Menodora spinescens var. spinescens, Oleaceae
- Mentzelia albicaulis, Loasaceae
- Mentzelia involucrata, Loasaceae
- Mentzelia laevicaulis, Loasaceae
- Mimulus bigelovii, Phrymaceae
- Mimulus mohavensis, Phrymaceae
- Mimulus rupicola, Phrymaceae
- Mirabilis laevis, Nyctaginaceae
- Mirabilis multiflora, Nyctaginaceae
- Mohavea breviflora, Plantaginaceae
- Mohavea confertiflora, Plantaginaceae
- Mollugo cerviana, Molluginaceae
- Monardella exilis, Lamiaceae
- Monoptilon bellidiforme, Asteraceae
- Monoptilon bellioides, Asteraceae
- Muhlenbergia porteri, Poaceae
N
- Nama demissum, Boraginaceae
- Neogaerrhinum filipes, Plantaginaceae, "fili" = "threadlike", "pes" = "foot" -> "threadlike stalks
- Nicolletia occidentalis, Asteraceae
- Nicotiana obtusifolia, Solanaceae
- Nicotiana quadrivalvis, Solanaceae
- Nitrophila mohavensis, Amaranthaceae
- Nolina bigelovii, Ruscaceae
- Nolina parryi, Ruscaceae
O
- Oenothera avita, Onagraceae
- Oenothera primiveris subsp. bufonis, Onagraceae
- Oligomeris linifolia, Resedaceae
- Opuntia basilaris, Cactaceae
- Opuntia chlorotica, Cactaceae
- Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea, Cactaceae
- Orobanche cooperi, Orobanchaceae
- Oxytheca perfoliata, Polygonaceae
P
- Palafoxia arida, Asteraceae
- Pectis papposa, Asteraceae
- Pectocarya penicillata, Boraginaceae
- Pectocarya setosa, Boraginaceae
- Pediomelum castoreum, Fabaceae
- Pellaea mucronata, Pteridaceae
- Penstemon albomarginatus, Plantaginaceae
- Penstemon calcareus, Plantaginaceae
- Penstemon fruticiformis var. fruticiformis, Plantaginaceae
- Penstemon palmeri var. palmeri, Plantaginaceae
- Penstemon pseudospectabilis, Plantaginaceae
- Penstemon thompsoniae, Plantaginaceae
- Penstemon utahensis, Plantaginaceae
- Peritoma arborea, Cleomaceae
- Perityle emoryi, Asteraceae
- Petalonyx nitidus, Loasaceaelis
- Petalonyx thurberi ssp. gilmanii, Loasaceae
- Petalonyx thurberi ssp. thurberi, Loasaceae
- Peucephyllum schottii, Asteraceae
- Phacelia campanularia, Boraginaceae
- Phacelia crenulata, Boraginaceae
- Phacelia curvipes, Boraginaceae
- Phacelia distans, Boraginaceae
- Phacelia fremontii, Boraginaceae
- Phacelia ivesiana, Boraginaceae
- Phacelia neglecta, Boraginaceae
- Phacelia pachyphylla, Boraginaceae
- Phacelia parishii, Boraginaceae
- Phacelia pedicellata, Boraginaceae
- Phacelia rotundifolia, Boraginaceae
- Phacelia vallis-mortae, Boraginaceae
- Pholisma arenarium, Boraginaceae
- Phoradendron californicum, Viscaceae
- Phoradendron villosum, Viscaceae
- Phragmites australis, Poaceae
- Physalis crassifolia, Solanaceae
- Physaria tenella, Brassicaceae
- Pinus edulis, Pinaceae
- Pinus flexilis, Pinaceae
- Pinus longaeva, Pinaceae
- Pinus monophylla, Pinaceae
- Pinus sabiniana, Pinaceae
- Plagiobothrys parishii, Boraginaceae
- Plantago ovata var. fastigiata
- Pluchea sericea, Asteraceae
- Populus fremontii, Salicaceae
- Porophyllum gracile, Asteraceae
- Portulaca halimoides, Portulacaceae
- Prosopis glandulosa ver. torreyana, Fabaceae
- Prosopis pubescens, Fabaceae
- Prunus eremophila, Rosaceae
- Prunus fasciculata, Rosaceae
- Psathyrotes annua, Asteraceae
- Psathyrotes ramosissima, Asteraceae
- Psilostrophe cooperi, Asteraceae
- Psorothamnus arborescens, Fabaceae
- Purshia tridentata, Rosaceae
R
- Rafinesquia neomexicana, Asteraceae
- Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum, Brassicaceae
- Rhus aromatica, Anacardiaceae
- Robinia neomexicana, Fabaceae
- Rumex hymenosepalus, Polygonaceae
S
- Salix exigua, Salicaceae, "salix" Latin for willow
- Salix laevigata, Salicaceae, "laevis" = "smooth or unhairy"
- Salix lasiolepis, Salicaceae, "lasio" = "wooly"
- Salsola tragus, Chenopodiaceae, "salsola" = "salty"
- Salvia carduacea, Lamiaceae
- Salvia columbariae, Lamiaceae
- Salvia dorii, Lamiaceae
- Salvia funerea, Lamiaceae
- Salvia mohavensis, Lamiaceae
- Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Chenopodiaceae; Greek "sarx" = "flesh", "batos" = "bramble"
- Sarcostemma cynanchoides
- Sclerocactus polyancistrus, Cactaceae, Greek "skleros" = "hard"
- Scopulophila rixfordii, Caryophyllaceae
- Scutellaria mexicana, Lamiaceae
- Senecio flaccidus var. monoesis, Asteraceae
- Senecio mohavensis, Asteraceae
- Senegalia greggii, Fabaceae
- Senna armata, Fabaceae
- Sesuvium verrucosum, Aizoaceae, "verrucosum" = "warty" referring to mipple-like projections visible with a hand lens
- Sphaeralcea ambigua
- Stanleya elata), Brassicaceae
- Stanleya pinnata), Brassicaceae
- Stephanomeria exigua, Asteraceae
- Stephanomeria parryi, Asteraceae
- Stephanomeria pauciflora var. pauciflora, Asteraceae
- Stephanomeria virgata var. pleurocarpa, Asteraceae
- Stillingia linearifolia, Euphorbiacae
- Stillingia paucidentata, Euphorbiaceae
- Stillingia spinulosa, Euphorbiaceae
- Stipa hymenoides, Poaceae
- Stipa speciosa, Poaceae
- Suaeda nigra, Chenopodiaceae
- Swallenia alexandrae, Poaceae
- Symphyotrichum subulatum, Asteraceae
- Syntrichopappus fremontii, Asteraceae
- Sysymbrium spp., Brassicaceae
T
- Tamarix aphylla, Tamaricaceae
- Tamarix ramosissima, Tamaricaceae
- Tauschia parishii. Apiaceae
- Tetradymia axillaris var. longispina, Asteraceae, "tetra" = "four", "dymos" = "together", "aris" = "of the" -> "axillaris" = "of the axil"
- Tetrapteron palmeri, Onagracae
- Thamnosma montana, Rutaceae
- Thelypodium integrifolium ssp. affine, Brassicaceae
- Thymophylla pentachaeta, Asteraceae
- *Thysanocarpus curvipes, Brassicaceae
- Tidestromia lanuginosa, Amaranthaceae
- Tidestromia suffruticosa, Amaranthaceae
- Tiquilia canescens, Boraginaceae, "canescens" = "covered with short white hairs"
- Tiquilia nuttallii, Boraginaceae
- Tiquilia plicata,, Boraginaceae
- Toxicoscordion brevibracteatum, Melanthiaceae
- Tragia ramosa, Euphorbiaceae, "ramosa" = "branched"
- Tribulus terrestris, Zygophyllaceae
- Trichoptilium incisum, Asteraceae
- Tripterocalyx micranthus, Nyctaginaceae
- Trixis californica var. californica, Asteraceae
U
- Uropapus lindleyi, Asteraceae
V
X
- Xanthisma gracile, Asteraceae
- Xylorhiza tortifolia var. tortifolia, Asteraceae
Y
- Yucca baccata var. baccata, Agavaceae
- Yucca brevifolia)
- Yucca schidigera, Agavaceae
List by plant family and genus
A
- Agavaceae, Greek "agauos" = "admirable "
- Aizoaceae
- Amaranthaceae, amaranth family
- :Amaranthus (amaranth, pigweed
B
C
E
F
- ''Fabaceae''
G
- ''Geraniaceae''
Z
List by common names
- California barrel cactus
- Banana yucca
- Beavertail prickly pear
- California fan palm
- Creosote bush
- Mojave suncup
- Newberry's milkvetch
- Cooper's dyssodia
- Death Valley monkeyflower
- Desert candle
- Desert five-spot
- Desert larkspur
- Desert Lily
- Desert rock pea
- Desert starErigeron concinnusIpomopsis arizonica
- Joshua Tree
- Jumping ChollaLarrea tridentataLinanthus demissusLupinus arizonicus
- Mesquite
- Mojave prickly poppy
- Mojave sage
- Mojave yucca
- Mormon Tea
- Branched Pencil ChollaPhacelia calthifoliaPhacelia crenulataPinus monophylla
- Ocotillo
- Prairie clover
- Latimer's woodland gilia Senna covesii
- Teddy-bear Cholla
- Utah Juniper
- Western poison oak
- White woolly daisy
- Wide-bannered lupine