Growth Form: Forb/herb; taproot, forms thickets, plants generally white hairy (pubescence); erect, one main stem with multiple branching.
Leaves: Gray-green with white hairs (canescent); lower leaves opposite; upper leaves alternate; lower leaves longer, pointed and lanceolate and sharply toothed; upper leaves smaller and more rounded or ovate.
Flowering Season: September or October through February - may flower year-round
Elevation: Up to 5,500 feet (1,700 m)
Habitat Preferences:Alluvial soils or sandy soils, sandy washes and dunes.
Recorded Range: Desert Twinbugs is found in the southwestern United States in AZ, CA, CO, NM, NV and UT. This species is also native to Baja California and northwest Mexico. Desert Twinbugs is primarily in AZ, CA, NM, NV and UT and marginal in CO.
North America species range map for Dicoria canescens:
North American range map courtesy of Virginia Tech, Dept. of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation
Click image for full size map
Genus Information: In North America there is 1 species and 1 accepted taxa overall for Dicoria. Worldwide, The Plant List includes 3 accepted species names and a further 9 scientific names of infraspecific rank for the genus.
Comments:Dicoria canescens, is descriptively named as the species epithet “canescens” is Latin for turning white or gray while a botanical definition means covered with short white or gray hairs. Desert Twinbugs is highly variable across its southwest deserts range. Based on its geographic range it is mostly a Mojave Desert species.
Importance to Wildlife, Birds and Livestock
Dicoria canescens flowers and plants may be visited by hummingbirds and/or small mammals in search of food, nectar or cover.
Special Value to Native bees, Butterflies and Insects
Dicoria canescens is likely visited by butterflies, bees and small insects.
Etymology:
The genus “Dicoria” (Dicor'ia:) from the Greek dis, “twice,” and koris, “a bug,”, thus literally “two bugs” in reference to the two-fruit heads of akenes of the original species.
