Desert Star-Vine
Brandegea bigelovii
Color: White
Common name: Desert Star-Vine
Latin name: Brandegea bigelovii
Family: CUCURBITACEAE
Description: Stem is without hairs (glabrous) on an unbranched tendril. Flower corolla 1.5–3 mm wide, shallowly cup-shaped, cream coloured.
Leaf: Leaves are highly variable versions of the palmate form, generally deeply lobed; central lobe generally longest; upper surfaces dotted with white glands.
Range: Deserts.
Habitat: Creosote Bush Scrub, canyons, washes.
Elevation: < 900 m
Flowering time: Mar–Apr
Notes: Photographed Feb. 16, 2008, in the desert, south east of Joshua Tree National Park, just off Interstate 10, Calif. Perennial herb that is native to California. This genus is named after California botanist T.S. Brandegee. The single species in the genus is named after Dr. Jacob M. Bigelow who, in the 1850s, collected hundreds of plants in California. Perennial herb that is native to California and is also found outside of California in sw Arizona, Mexico.
Photos tips Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. More on desert photography.
Mojave Desert wildflowers This book is the standard by which all other wildflower books are measured. The author, Jon Mark Stewart, has combined super photography with concise information. This book has an entire color page to each wildflower covered, with a discussion of the wildflower. 210 pages with 200 color photos. More...
What's Blooming Now - Check the Wildflower Reports
DesertUSA Newsletter -- We send articles on hiking, camping and places to explore, as well as animals, wildflower reports, plant information and much more. Sign up now. (It's free.)
| THE DESERT ENVIRONMENT | |||
| The North American Deserts | |||
| Chihuahuan Desert | Great Basin Desert | Mojave Desert | Sonoran Desert |
| Glossary of Desert & Geological Terms | |||
Animals - Wildlife | Wildflowers-Plants | Minerals - Geology | Desert People
SEARCH THIS SITE
Wildflower field guide - find the flowers by color
Pink, Red, & Orange Flowers
Yellow & Gold Flowers
Are you interested in the temperatures in the
desert?Click here to see current desert temperatures!
DesertUSA is a comprehensive resource about the North American deserts and Southwest destinations. Learn about desert biomes while you discover how desert plants and animals learn to adapt to the harsh desert environment. Find travel information about national parks, state parks, BLM land, and Southwest cities and towns located in or near the desert regions of the United States. Access maps and information about the Sonoran Desert, Mojave Desert, Great Basin Desert, and Chihuahuan Desert.
