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Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Shrubs Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)

General: Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata) is a perennial forb or subshrub that develops tall (to 5 ft) stalks topped with a showy array of yellow flowers. The leaves are long and oval, but deeply lobed, especially towards the base of the plant. Upper leaves are narrow and may be entire or few-lobed. Petal claws are hairy. In contrast, Panamint Princesplume (Stanleya elata), has broad, entire leaves and the petal claws are smooth.

Desert Princesplume is a fairly common component of vegetation communities in dry, heavy soils on desert flats and on bajadas into the lower mountains in the Lower Sonoran (Creosote-Bursage Flats) and Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zones. Princesplume tends to grow on selenium rich soils and accumulates the mineral in the leaves, making the plant toxic to humans and livestock.

Around Las Vegas, look for Desert Princesplume on the edges of desert mudflats in places such as Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Death Valley National Park, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, and Gold Butte National Monument. Can be found on gravel soils.

Family: Mustard (Brassicaceae); Other Names: Prince's Plume

Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Desert Princesplume lining a road in typical playa-basin habitat
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Desert Princesplume in a wash
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata) Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata) Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata) Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Lower leaves highly dissected
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Upper leaves long and narrow
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Basal leaves highly dissected (dorsal surface)
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Basal leaves highly dissected (ventral surface)
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Basal leaves highly dissected
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Basal leaves highly dissected
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Upper leaves entire to few lobes
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Upper leaves entire to few lobes
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Upper leaves entire to few lobes
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Leaves usually smooth, without hairs
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Typically smooth, leaves can have short prickles
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Typically smooth, leaves can have short prickles
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Inflorescence: dense buds and yellow flowers
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Inflorescence: dense buds and yellow flowers
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Inflorescence: dense buds and yellow flowers
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Inflorescence: dense buds and yellow flowers
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Flowers with long sepals, long petals, and long (11–28 mm) filaments
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Flowers with long sepals, long petals, and long (11–28 mm) filaments
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Flowers with long sepals, long petals, and long (11–28 mm) filaments
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Last of the flowers, plus developing fruits
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Petal claws hairy
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Petal claws hairy
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Carpenter Bee feeding on Princesplume nectar
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Carpenter Bee feeding on Princesplume nectar
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Developing seedpods
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Developing seedpods
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Ripe seedpod: long and thin
Desert Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata)
Ripe seedpod: long and thin

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
copyright; Last updated 240629

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