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.
We have an online wildflower field guide that is designed to help you identify desert wildflowers by color, scientific name, region and common name. The pictures are sized to work on the iPod, iPhone, iPad and similar devices. With your iPod or phone you will easily be able to identify wildflowers while in the desert. Links for downloads are on the bottom of the Wildflower Field Guide page.
Photo 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 for each wildflower covered, with a discussion of the wildflower. 210 pages with 200 color photos. More...
What's Blooming Now - Check the Wildflower Reports
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The Desert Environment
The North American Deserts
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