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Pilostyles thurberi
Pilostyles thurberi A. Gray
Thurber's Stemsucker, Pilostyles
Rafflesiaceae (Rafflesia Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: PITH
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Pilostyles are parasitic on woody legumes. Only the flowers and bracts are visible on the surface of the host stems.
Many authorities now include this species in the Apodanthaceae family.
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Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Breeding System: Dioecious
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Flowers less than 1/8 inch tall, visible only after they erupt through the stem of the host plant.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Red , BrownBloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May
Bloom Notes: Brown or maroon.
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , NM , NV , TXBibliography
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Pilostyles thurberi in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Pilostyles thurberi in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pilostyles thurberi
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-05-03Research By: TWC Staff