Arizona Wild Flowers
Wildflower Pictures And Photos

Mexican Cliffrose Purshia mexicana, Rose Family ( Rosaceae ), Mexican Cliffrose. Also called Antelope Bush. Mexican Cliffrose shrubs ares often covered with many flowers that smell delightful. They attract bees. Mexican Cliffrose is a many-branched shrub that grows up to 8 feet tall. In some excellent growing locations the shrubs can reach 20 feet high. In older shrubs, the bark splits into long, fine segments. Leaves are tiny, 1/8- to 5/8 inches long, and are mostly 5-lobed. The leaves are covered with tiny, glandular-dotted hairs that are sticky to the touch. When the seeds mature, they have a long-tailed hair that attaches to the seed. These hairs aid in wind dispersal and in helping to "drill" the seeds into the ground. Flowering Mexican Cliffrose bloom from midspring until summer, and then if summer rains are plentiful, the plants may bloom again in the late summer. Early pioneers called the plant "quinine bush" after the bitter taste of the leaves. Deer forage on the plants and rodents eat the seeds. Height: About 8' - 20' Tall. Trunk: Up To About 10 inches thick. Bark: The bark is a light grey. Flowers: Flowers whitish in color and are 1/2 up to 1 inch wide. The five petals haveyellow stamens. Blooming Time: May and August - September. Fruit: The Seeds are plumed and spiral. Leaves: Leaves are small, dark green, shiny and have good fall color. Elevation: 3,500 - 8000 Feet. Habitat: Dry and rocky slopes, mostly in pinyon - juniper woodland, desert mountains. Miscellaneous: Photos Taken September 20, 2003 Lynx Creek.