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Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Vegetation Around Las Vegas
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)

General: Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica) is a large-leafed, perennial herb that grows in dense stands on moist and wet soils around springs and seeps. The large, white “flowers” have an unusual cone-shaped structure in the center.

Yerba Mansa is a fairly common component of shady, wet vegetation communities in the Lower Sonoran (Creosote-Bursage Flats) and Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zones. However, shady, wet vegetation communities are uncommon, making the species uncommon overall.

Family: Lizard's-tail (Saururaceae). This unusual species is the only member of the Lizard's-tail (Saururaceae) family.

Plant Form: Perennial herb growing in dense stands from thick, woody rhizomes in wet, shady areas.

Height: Leaves 12 to 14 inches high; flower stem to about 20 inches high.

Stems: Flower stems 6 to 20 inches high, naked.

Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)

Leaves: Petioles basal, 4-8 inches long, hairy; leaves 5(2-6) inches long, oblong.

Flowers: Blooms spring through fall. Inflorescence conical, 2-inches long, formed of many, tiny flowers; bracts petal-like, 1-inch long, behind cone, white to reddish. With the large bracts and conical inflorescence, the entire structure resembles a single flower.

Seeds: Fruit: berry-like capsule.

Habitat: Moist areas around seeps and springs, including saline and alkaline soils.

Elevation: Near sea level to 5,500 feet.

Distribution: Southwestern U.S. from California to Utah and west Texas, south into northwestern Mexico.

Where to Find: Look for Yerba Mansa at Calico Basin, Wheeler Camp Spring, Rogers Spring, and similar places.

Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Plants growing in wetland
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Plants growing in wetland
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Blooming plants growing in wetland
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Blooming plants growing in wetland
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica) Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica) Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica) Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Leaf, dorsal surface
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Leaf, ventral surface
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Leaf, dorsal surface
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Leaf, ventral surface
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Leaf and petiole, dorsal surface
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Leaf and petiole, ventral surface
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Petiole with hairs
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Petiole with hairs
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Yerba Mansa with flower buds
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Yerba Mansa flower buds
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Yerba Mansa flower bud
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Yerba Mansa flower bud
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Yerba Mansa flower buds opening
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Yerba Mansa flower buds opening
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Yerba Mansa flower
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Yerba Mansa flower
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica) Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica) Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Flower with short cone
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Flower with short cone
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Flower with long cone
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Flower with long cone
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica) Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica) Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica) Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Plants spread by runners
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Plants spread by runners
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Plants spread by runners
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Young plant
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Dried seedhead
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Dried seedhead

All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 220625

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