Images
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Morphology
- Stem
- Erect, 1 to few, usually branched above, whitish to yellowish, pubescent above.
- Leaves
- Alternate, simple, short-stalked below, sessile above, oblanceolate, 1.5 to 4 inches long, about 3/4 inch wide, rough; margins coarsely toothed; tips pointed or blunt; upper leaves somewhat reduced.
- Inflorescence
- Cyme-like, 1 or few-flowered, near branch tips; bracts toothed or narrow-lobed, not fused to ovary.
- Flower
- Showy, 1.5 to 3.5 inches in diameter; sepals 5, lanceolate, .5 to 1 inch long, pointed; petals 10, white or pale cream, narrowly oblanceolate to spatulate, 1 to 1.5 inches long, less than .5 inch wide, not overlapping at flowering; stamens numerous, almost as long as petals.
- Fruit
- Capsules, cylindric, .5 to 1.5 inches long, less than .5 inch wide, dried sepals at the top; seeds many, flattened, broad-winged.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Prairie hillsides, pastures, roadsides, and waste areas, in sandy soils.
- Distribution
- West 3/5 of Kansas.
Additional Notes
Comments
The flowers open late in the afternoon and close in the evening. Sometimes they open on overcast days. Sand lily has a strong, deep taproot. It is sometimes called "stickleaf" due to the barbed hairs that cause the leaves to cling to clothing or hair.
Special Notes: Resembles Ten petal mentzelia
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Wildflower
- Family
- Loasaceae - Stickleaf Family
- Life Span
- Biennial
- Height
- 1-5 feet
- Last Updated
- 2007-10-20
Color Groups
White, Green & Greenish White Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Blooms: July, August, September