Eriastrum diffusum, Miniature Woollystar
Scientific Name: Eriastrum diffusum
Common Name: Miniature Woollystar
Also Called: Diffuse Eriastrum, Diffuse Woolstar, Miniature Woolstar
Family: Polemoniaceae, Jacob’s Ladder or Phlox Family
Synonyms: (Eriastrum diffusum subsp. diffusum , Eriastrum diffusum subsp. jonesii)
Status: Native
Duration: Annual
Size: Up to 8 inches more or less.
Growth Form: Forb/herb; stems erect or spreading, often diffusely branched.
Leaves: Green; alternate, 2 to 4 lobes near the base, leaves glabrous to woolly.
Flower Color: Blue, yellow, or cream; calyx lobes more or less unequal, corolla funnel-shaped, leafy-bracted heads, stamens unequal in length and exserted beyond lobes.
Flowering Season: March to June.
Elevation: 1,000 to 5,500 feet.
Habitat Preferences: Open areas sandy soil.
Recorded Range: Miniature Woollystar is found in southwestern United States; in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas and Utah. It is found throughout Arizona
North America & US County Distribution Map for Eriastrum diffusum.
U.S. Weed Information: No information available.
Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: No information available.
Wetland Indicator: No information available.
Threatened/Endangered Information: No information available.
The Plant List includes 16 are accepted species names for the genus Eriastrum (Note minor discrepancy above).
Comments: Miniature Woollystar and Desert Woollystar are superficially similar in appearance, the differences are primarily technical.
Also see in Southwest Desert Flora; Desert Woolystar, Eriastrum eremicum.