Brandegea

Taxobox
name = "Brandegea"


image_width = 260px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Cucurbitales
familia = Cucurbitaceae
genus = "Brandegea"
species = "B. bigelovii"
binomial = "Brandegea bigelovii"
binomial_authority = (S.Wats.) Cogn.

"Brandegea" is a monotypic genus containing the single species "Brandegea bigelovii", the desert starvine. This sprawling perennial vine in the squash family is native to the deserts of California, Arizona, and northern Mexico. The distinctive small, dark-green leaves are variable in shape but are usually a deeply lobed long-fingered palmate shape. They are heavily speckled with white oil glands. The vine bears tendrils, tiny five-pointed white flowers only 2 or 3 millimeters wide, and small, dry, prickly fruits 5 or 6 millimeters in length and holding a single seed. The plant grows from a deep taproot.

External links

* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3375,3376,3377 Jepson Manual Treatment]
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=BRBI USDA Plants Profile]
* [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Brandegea+bigelovii Photo gallery]