Desmanthus cooleyi, Cooley's Bundleflower, Southwest Desert Flora

Desmanthus cooleyi, Cooley's Bundleflower

Cooley's Bundleflower has white and greenish yellow flowers with showy stamens as noted in the photograph. The flowers are globose or globular in shape. Desmanthus cooleyi

Cooley's Bundleflower, the fruits here are a few linear pods as noted in the photograh; a true legume. Desmanthus cooleyi

Cooley's Bundleflower is native to north and south America. It grows up to 2 feet (.61 m) or more in height. Desmanthus cooleyi

Cooley's Bundleflower is a subshrub or forb/herb that is spreading to ascending; the lower stems are woody, angled and without thorns. Desmanthus cooleyi

Scientific Name: Desmanthus cooleyi
Common Name: Cooley's Bundleflower

Also Called: Bundleflower, James Bundleflower

Family: Fabaceae or Leguminosae Family

Synonyms: (Acacia cooleyi, Acuan cooleyi, Acuan fendleri, Acuan jamesii, Desmanthus jamesii, Desmanthus jamesii var. fendleri)

Status: Native

Duration: Perennial.

Size: Up to 2 feet (61 cm) or more.

Growth Form: Subshrub or forb/herb; spreading to ascending; lower stems woody, angled, without thorns; mature stems mostly without hairs, generally smooth or glabrous.

Leaves: Green; leaves alternate; twice bipinnately compound, leaflets arranged opposite; mostly smooth or glabrous.

Flower Color: White and greenish yellow; flowers showy, stamens attractive; form globose or globular; fruit; a few linear pods, a legume.

Flowering Season: May to September

Elevation: 3,500 to 7,500 feet (1,067 to 2,286 m)

Habitat Preferences: Dry slopes, canyons, mesas and plains.

Recorded Range: In the United States Desmanthus cooleyi is found in AZ, CO, NM, NV, TX, UT and very small populations in KS and OK. It also occurs in northern Mexico.

North America & US County Distribution Map for Desmanthus cooleyi.

North America species range map for Cooley's Bundleflower, Desmanthus cooleyi:

Click image for full size map.

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

Genus Information: 15 native species in the lower 48 states for Desmanthus. Worldwide, The Plant List includes 29 accepted species names and a further 14 scientific names of infraspecific rank for the genus.

The genus “Desmanthus” is from the Greek words "desmos" which means "bundle" and "anthos" which means "flower"; thus this common name of Bundleflower.

The genus Desmanthus was published in 1806 by Carl Ludwig Willdenow, (1765-1812).

In the Southwestern United States: Arizona has 5 species of genus Desmanthus, California has 0 species, Nevada and Utah each have 2 species, New Mexico has 6 species and Texas has 12 species. Data approximate, subject to revision.

Comments: Bundleflowers of the genus Desmanthus get their name from the Greek derivations of “desmos” meaning “bundle”, and “anthos” meaning “flower”. In Central America Desmanthus species are known as "Donkey Beans" as species of this genus are an excellent food-source for domestic draft (draught) animals (beasts of burden).

Desmanthus cooleyi is very similar in appearance to Calliandra humilis but differentiated by a small crater-like gland between the lowest pinnae of the leaves.

Importance to Wildlife, Birds and Livestock Desmanthus cooleyi has attractive flowers, the flowers, their seeds and plants may be visited by hummingbirds and/or small mammals including rodents and granivorous birds in search of food, nectar and protection through cover.

Beneficial Value to Butterflies, Honey Bees and Insects Desmanthus cooleyi has attractive flowers, the flowers and their plants may be visited or used by butterflies, moths, flies, honeybees, native bees and other insects in search of nectar, food or shelter and protection.

Etymology: The genus “Desmanthus” is from the Greek words “"desmos”" which means “bundle” and “anthos” which means “flower”; thus this common name of Bundleflower.

The species epithet “cooleyi” is named for Grace Emily Cooley, (1857-1916).

Ethnobotany In Central America Desmanthus species are known as “Donkey Beans” as species of this genus are an excellent food-source for domestic draft (draught) animals (beasts of burden).