Plant Name
Scientific Name: Gaura mollis
Synonym: Gaura parviflora
Common Names: Velvetweed, Lizard-tail, Velvety Gaura, Smallflowered Gaura, Willow Gaura
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Annual
Growth Habit: Herb/Forb
Arizona Native Status: Native
Habitat: Desert, Upland. This weedy wildflower is typically found growing in sandy washes and in disturbed areas with loose soil.
Flower Color: Pink
Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
Height: Flower stalks up to 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, but usually less
Description: The flowers are in long, slender, usually either bent or drooping, terminal flower spikes. The individual flowers have 4 petals and are 3/16 of an inch (5 mm) across. The leaves are alternate, velvety hairy, lance-shaped, and up to 8 inches (20 cm) long. The stems are covered in soft, spreading hair.
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae – Evening Primrose family
Genus: Gaura L. – beeblossom
Species: Gaura mollis James – velvetweed
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