General: Red Triangles (Centrostegia thurberi) is a spreading annual forb with broad basal leaves and short, spreading stems. The leaves are basal. The flowers are small and nondescript, but the upper stems and flowering parts become red.

Red Triangles is an common component of desert vegetation communities on sandy and gravel soils. Around Las Vegas, look for this species at middle elevations in the Mojave National Preserve.

Family: Buckwheat (Polygonaceae).

Other Names: Chorizanthe thurberi

Plant Form: Spreading, herbaceous annual with short stems arising from basal rosette. Flowers not obvious.

Height: Usually about 5 inches, to about 12 inches.

Stems: Several, short, spreading; glandular.

Leaves: Basal with short petiole; blade to about 2 inches, oblanceolate, entire, glabrous.

Flowers: Small and nondescript. Small, white to pink with 6 lobes. Flowering parts and upper stems become red.

Habitat: Sandy desert soils.

Elevation: About 1,000 to 7,000 feet.

Distribution: California to Utah and Arizona.

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