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desert christmas tree
Scientific Name: Pholisma arenarium
Family: Lennoaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names: AZ (scaly-stemmed sand plant)
Pholisma arenarium: Desert Christmas Tree
Pholisma arenarium, a member of the borage family, is known by several common names, most notably Desert Christmas Tree. Other common names include Scaly-stemmed Sand Plant and Purple Sand Food.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Pholisma arenarium Nutt. ex Hook.
- Family: Borage (Boraginaceae)
Distribution and Habitat
This plant is found in southwestern North America. Mentions of its presence in desert environments, including the Mojave Desert and the Great Basin Desert, suggest it is well-adapted to arid regions.
- The plant has a scaly stem.
- It is a succulent underground.
Ecological Role
Two species of Pholisma occur in southwestern North America: P. sonorae (sand food) and P. arenarium (desert Christmas tree).