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Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
Annual Forbs Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)

General: Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata) is a small annual forb that has 2-4 (8) inch long, linear leaves covered with long hairs. The inflorescence is a short stem with a cylindrical or spherical mass of bracts harboring tiny whitish, 4-part flowers. For such a small plant, it produces many relatively large seeds and provides an important food source for desert tortoise, desert iguana, and other vegetarian creatures.

Desert Indianwheat is a common, often abundant component of vegetation communities in dry, well-drained sandy and gravelly soils on desert flats and bajadas into the lower mountains in the Lower Sonoran (Creosote-Bursage Flats) and Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zones.

Around Las Vegas, look for Desert Indianwheat everywhere in desert habitat, but look closely.

Family: Plantain (Plantaginaceae)

Comment: For Desert Tortoises, this is like candy -- they love it.

Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
Nothing to see here? Look more closely ...
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
Nothing to see here? Look more closely ...
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
The ground is covered with Desert Indianwheat in bloom
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
The ground is covered with Desert Indianwheat in bloom
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata) Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata) Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata) Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata) Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
Hairy leaves
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
One, stout root
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata) Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata) Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
Desert Indianwheat seedheads
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
Desert Indianwheat seedheads
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
Desert Indianwheat seedhead
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
Desert Indianwheat seedhead
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
Desert Indianwheat seeds
Desert Indianwheat (Plantago ovata)
Desert Indianwheat seeds

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
copyright; Last updated 220729

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