Plant Name

Scientific Name: Phemeranthus aurantiacus

Synonyms: Talinum angustissimum, T. aurantiacum, T. polygaloides

Common Names: Orange Flameflower, Orange Fameflower [sic]

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial

Growth Habit: Subshrub, Herb/Forb

Arizona Native Status: Native

Habitat: Desert, Upland. The narrow-leaved, yellow-flowered form grows in desert areas, while the broader-leaved, orange-flowered form grows at higher elevations in upland areas.

Flower Color: Orange to reddish orange, Yellow

Flowering Season: Summer, Fall (early). This wildflower blooms after the summer monsoon rains have begun.

Height: To 16 inches (41 cm) tall

Description: The flowers are 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and have 5 yellow or orange petals. The orange petals often have red, flame-like streaks on them. The leaves are dark green, succulent, alternate, and lanceolate or narrowly linear in shape. The stems are fleshy and red-brown in color. The roots are large and tuberous.

Special Characteristics

Edible – Although woody, the large, tuberous roots are edible if cooked. The roots were used as a food source by the Native Americans.

Classification

Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Caryophyllidae
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Portulacaceae – Purslane family
Genus: Phemeranthus Raf.
Species: Phemeranthus aurantiacus (Engelm.) Kiger – orange flameflower

More About This Plant

Arizona County Distribution Map