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. |