Plant Name
Scientific Name: Evolvulus nuttallianus
Synonyms: Evolvulus argenteus, E. pilosus
Common Names: Shaggy Dwarf Morning-glory, Silver Wild Morningglory, Prostrate Evolvulus, Hairy Evolvulus, Shaggy Evolvulus, Silky Evolvulus
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Subshrub, Herb/Forb
Arizona Native Status: Native
Habitat: Desert, Upland. This wildflower grows in sunny, open locations in sandy and rocky soils from higher elevation desert areas to oak, pinyon, and juniper woodlands.
Flower Color: Lavender, Pale blue
Flowering Season: Summer
Height: Up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall
Description: The morning-glory-like flowers are funnel-shaped, up to 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) wide, and have a large, white, 5-pointed star in the center and a very short flower stalk. The flowers close in the evening and remain closed on cloudy days. The flowers are followed by hairless, egg-shaped seed capsules. The leaves are alternate, grayish green in color, densely hairy above and below, and linear-oblong, narrowly oblanceolate, or narrowly lanceolate in shape. The stems are green, hairy, and woody near the base of the plant. The plants are wider than they are tall.
The similar Slender Dwarf Morning-glory (Evolvulus alsinoides) has longer flower stalks that typically equal the leaves in length, while Wild Dwarf Morning-glory (Evolvulus arizonicus) has brighter blue flowers with a small, distinct, white center, and Silver Dwarf Morning-glory (Evolvulus sericeus) has silver-edged leaves.
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Solanales
Family: Convolvulaceae – Morning-glory family
Genus: Evolvulus L. – dwarf morning-glory
Species: Evolvulus nuttallianus Schult. – shaggy dwarf morning-glory
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