General: During most of the year, Littleleaf Ratany (Krameria erecta) is a many-branched shrub that forms a low mound of short, thin branches. During the growing season, the plant puts on short, narrow leaves and purple flowers. The fruits are a spherical bur covered with straight spines. Spines with barbs on the sides; tip is pointed (compare with White Ratany where the spines hooked at the tip).

Littleleaf Ratany is a fairly common component of vegetation associations in washes and on rocky bajadas in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zone. This is the only species of Ratany that grows in Red Rock Canyon NCA and the Spring Mountains. Littleleaf Ratany and White Ratany occur together in the northern Lake Mead Region (e.g., Valley of Fire and northeastward).

Family: Ratany (Krameriaceae).

Other Names: krameria, ratany, pima ratany, purple heather, range ratany.

Plant Form: Prostrate, somewhat spreading, many-branched shrub.

Height: Usually shin-high, but sometimes grows to about 2 feet.

Bark: Gray.

Stems: Main branches often ascending, but side-stems occur at all angles and sometimes are bent making a mesh of interlocking stems. Stem tips are said to be "not thorn-like," but the tips can be sharp. Fresh stems covered in tiny hairs.

Leaves: Originate in fascicules. Small, narrow, linear, alternate, sessile, and hairy.

Flowers: Blooms in the spring, also sporadically throughout the summer and fall in response to rain. Flowers solitary. Petals tiny; sepals larger, cupped, purple, 4-5 (appearing to be petals).

Fruit: Heart-shaped (sometimes spherical) bur covered with straight spines. Spines are unbarbed, or if barbs are present, they occur on the side of the spine -- not just at the tip. One seed inside.

Habitat: Dry, well-drained sandy, gravelly, and rocky soils on upper bajadas, moderate slopes, and rocky ridges in the lower mountains.

Elevation: Up to about 4,000 feet.

Distribution: Southwestern US. Southern California to Texas, south into northern Mexico.

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