White rhatany is a dense, spiny and intricately-branched perennial shrub which grows in dry sandy or rocky places to about 4000' in the Colorado and s. Mojave Deserts. There is only one other species, K. erecta, in the genus Krameria which in turn is the only genus in the family Krameriaceae represented in California.  This plant is silky tomentose especially on young growth, and has alternate, narrow lanceolate leaves. The somewhat irregular flowers are reddish-purple with a single pair of opposite leaf-like bracts.  The sepals are spreading to reflexed, and there are 5 red-purple petals, the three upper spatulate, the two lower cuneate-obovate and shorter.  White rhatany may be found in creosote bush scrub and blooms from April to May.

Click here for Latin name derivations: 1) Krameria 2) grayi.
Pronunciation: kray-MER-ee-a GRAY-eye.
Click here for Botanical Term Meanings.