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What is Spiny Hop-Sage (Grayia spinosa)

What is Spiny Hop-Sage

Spiny Hop-Sage Overview

What is Spiny Hop-Sage

Taxonomy

  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Clade: Tracheophytes
  • Clade: Angiosperms
  • Clade: Eudicots
  • Order: Caryophyllales
  • Family: Amaranthaceae
  • Genus: Grayia
  • Species: G. spinosa

Size and Body Description

Length

Height

1 – 3 feet tall

Leaves

Diet

Reproduction/Pollination

Flowers

Seeds

How Long do Spiny Hop-Sage Live

Wildlife

Habitat and Range

Washes, mesa, flats

Where Found

Creosote Bush Scrub, Arroyo Woodland, and Blackbrush Scrub

Protection

Related Content

Photos and Videos

References Used

What is Spiny Hop-Sage

ELEVATION

2500 to 7500 ft (833 to 2500 m)

TYPE OF SOIL

Alkaline gravels

SOURCE OF WATER

Surface

POLLINATION

Wind, insects

ADAPTATION

Wood stem, spiny branches.

Small leaves and flowers.

The plant appears dead much of the year.

COMMENTS

Buds, twigs, and especially the flat, winged fruit is the favorite browse of desert bighorn sheep and range cattle