Antelope Island skeletonplant

Lygodesmia juncea (Pursh) D. Don ex Hooker var. dianthopsis D. C. Eaton in S. Watson, Botany (Fortieth Parallel), 200. 1871; L. dianthopsis (D. C. Eaton) Tomb

Plants (5–)20–60 cm. Stems erect or ascending, purple proximally, slender, simple or sparingly branched from bases or distally, smooth (glabrous or tomentulose). Leaves: (proxi-malmost reduced to scales at ground level) proximal blades linear, 50–110 × 2–6 mm, ± lax; distal linear, less than 10 mm, distally reduced to linear scales. Heads 2–13, in loose, corymbiform arrays. Involucres subcylindric, 15–22 × 4–5 mm, apices narrow. Phyllaries 5–6. Florets 5; corollas purple to lavender or white. Cypselae 12–19 mm, abaxial faces smooth, adaxial distinctly rugose, weakly sulcate. 2n = 18.

Flowering Jun–Jul. Sandy and gravelly soils in juniper-pinyon scrub, open fields, sandy roadsides; 1300–2500 m; Colo., Idaho, Nev., Utah.

Variety dianthopsis is recognized by its slender, erect, leafy stems, purplish at base, persistent cauline leaves, phyllaries with appendages, 5–6 florets per head, and distinctive rugose-roughened cypselae. It usually is taller than var. arizonica. The stems and leaves are occasionally sparsely tomentulose.