Chorizanthe brevicornu – “Brittle Spineflower”

Family: Buckwheat (Polygonaceae)
Bloom Period: Feb-Jul
Form: Annual herb
Habitat: Rocky soil, often in association with Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata)
Leaves: Linear; basal; usually dessicated by the time flowering commences
Translation: “Chorizanthe” is Greek for “divided flower,” but this actually refers to the calyx; “brevicornu” is Latin for “short-horned” which describes the shape of the flowers.
Notes: Though Taylor characterizes this genus of plants as “unattractive,” in the case of this particular species, I find the twiggy geometry quite striking and the tiny flowers to be delightful little wonders.