Carnegiea gigantea, Giant Saguaro

Southwest Desert Flora

Home to the plants of the Sonoran, Chihuahuan and Mojave Deserts

Cirsium ochrocentrum, Yellowspine Thistle

Pentzia incana, African Sheepbush

African Sheepbush has small yellow ball-like or rounded flowers as shown here. Pentzia incana African Sheepbush has bracts surrounding flower heads that are blunt or rounded at the tip; (see photo). Pentzia incana African Sheepbush has single or solitary heads on tips of long flowering stalks; (see photo). Pentzia incana African Sheepbush is a dense busy plant that often becomes rounded over. This plant prefers elevations from 3,000 to 5,500 feet (914-1,676 m). Pentzia incana African Sheepbush has small greenish-gray leaves that are fascicled (in bundles similar to pine needles); the leaves are divided pinnately with linear lobes and minute glands. Pentzia incana African Sheepbush is a species introduced to Arizona by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for unknown reasons. Habitat preferences include chaparral vegetation, pinyon-juniper; oak woodlands and sandy or loamy soils. Pentzia incana

Scientific Name: Pentzia incana
Common Name: African Sheepbush

Also called: Australian Sheepbush, Karoo Bush

Family: Asteraceae, Sunflower Family

Synonyms: (Pentzia virgata)

Status: Introduced

Duration: Perennial

Size: Up to 1 foot (30 cm) or more; 2 feet (61 cm)

Growth Form: Subshrub; dense bushy plants rounded over; covered with short, soft grey matted woolly hairs (tomentose); horizontal fibrous stems produce roots at ground level, then turn upright to erect.

Leaves: Green; small leaves fascicled or in bundles similar to pine needles; divided pinnately with linear lobes and minute glands.

Flower Color: Yellow; flower heads small (.5 inch - 1.3 cm) ball-like; solitary heads on tips of long flowering stalks; bracts surrounding flower heads blunt or rounded at the tip; fruit is a cypsela.

Flowering Season: April to September

Elevation: 3,000 to 5,500 feet (914-1,676 m)

Habitat Preferences: Chaparral vegetation, pinyon-juniper and oak woodland, sandy or loamy soils.

Recorded Range: In the United States African Sheepbush is found in Arizona and New Mexico. In Arizona it has been recorded or observed in Pinal and Graham Counties and will likely be identified in Gila County.

North America & US County Distribution Map for Pentzia incana.

North America species range map for African Sheepbush, Pentzia incana:

North America species range map for African Sheepbush, Pentzia incana: Click image for full size map.
Click image for full size map

U.S. Weed Information: Unknown
Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: Unknown
Wetland Indicator: Unknown
Threatened/Endangered Information: Unknown

Genus Information: In North America there are 3 species and 3 accepted taxa overall for the genus Pentzia. Worldwide, The Plant List includes 21 accepted species names for Pentzia.

The genus Pentzia was named for Swedish plant collector Hendrik Christian Pentz, 1738–1803.

Many species previously included in the genus Pentzia have been re-classified to other genera including the Arizona invasive genera Oncosiphon.

In the Southwestern United States there is 1 species of Pentzia in Arizona and New Mexico. Data approximate and subject to revision.

Comments: African Sheepbush is an aromatic rounded subshrub with arching branching that set root in sandy soil. The photo above was taken near Oak Flats northeast of Superior in Pinal County.

This African/Australian plant has moderate forage value and was introduced in Arizona near Safford, by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. It does not appear to be an aggressive species.

In Southwest Desert Flora also see the similar looking and closely related invasive Stinknet, Oncosiphon piluliferum.

Importance to Wildlife, Birds and Livestock
Although a non-native species, Pentzia incana has small by showy yellow flowers and their seeds and plants may be visited by hummingbirds and/or small mammals including rodents and granivorous birds in search of food, nectar, shelter and protection through cover.

Beneficial Value to Butterflies, Bees and Insects
Although a non-native species, Pentzia incana has small by showy yellow flowers and their plants may be visited by butterflies, moths and other insects in search of nectar and/or other food.

Etymology:
The genus “Pentzia” was was named for Swedish plant collector Hendrik Christian Pentz, 1738–1803.

The species epithet “incana” (inca'na:) means grayish or hoary (tomentose).

Ethnobotany
Unknown

Date Profile Completed: 8/10/2012; updated 09/19/2020
References:
Arizona Flora, Kearney, Thomas H., Peebles, Robert H., 1960, University of California Press, Berkley and Los Angeles
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service on-line database and USGS ITIS search; accessed 09/19/2020.
https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PEIN4
https://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=profile&symbol=PENTZ&display=31
The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Published on the Internet; http://www.theplantlist.org/; accessed 09/19/2020.
http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=pentzia
David J. Keil, Flora of North America; Asteraceae, Pentzia; 1. Pentzia incana (Thunberg) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 3(2): 166. 1898.; Flora of North America North of Mexico. 16+ vols. New York and Oxford.
Seiler, John, Peterson, John, North American species range map courtesy of Virginia Tech, Dept. of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation
http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/
SEINet synonyms, scientific names, geographic locations, general information.
http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/
Etymology: Michael L. Charters, California Plant Names: Latin and Greek Meanings and Derivations; A Dictionary of Botanical and Biographical Etymology - accessed 09/17/2020.
http://www.calflora.net/botanicalnames/pageI.html
David J. Keil, FNA | Family List | FNA Vol. 19, 20 and 21 | Asteraceae | Pentzia, Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico. 16+ vols. New York and Oxford.
EOL, Encyclopedia of Life, http://eol.org/pages/515108/overview