Turtlebacks

Psathyrotes is a genus of North American plants in the sneezeweed tribe within the sunflower family. It contains annual and perennial forbs and low subshrubs native to dry areas of southwestern North America. Common names include turtleback, brittlestem, and fanleaf.

The plants are low, densely branching, hairy, and scaly, with a turpentine-like odor. Leaves are alternate and hairy. The Latin name of the genus (from the Greek psathurotes) refers to the brittleness of the stems.

Species

Psathyrotes annua (Nutt.) Gray (annual psathyrotes, mealy rosettes, turtleback) - CA NV UT AZ ID

Synonyms: Bulbostylis annua Nutt.

Annual or perennial forb

Psathyrotes pilifera Gray (hairy-beast turtleback, hairybeast brittlestem) - NV UT AZ

Annual forb

Psathyrotes ramosissima (Torr.) Gray (velvet rosette, velvet turtleback, turtleback) - NV UT AZ CA, Baja California, Sonora

Synonyms: Tetradymia ramosissima Torr.

Annual or perennial forb or subshrub

formerly included

see Peucephyllum Psathyrotopsis Trichoptilium

Psathyrotes incisa A.Gray - Trichoptilium incisum (A.Gray) A.Gray

Psathyrotes purpusii Brandegee - Psathyrotopsis purpusii (Brandegee) Rydb.

Psathyrotes scaposa A.Gray - Psathyrotopsis scaposa (A.Gray) H.Rob.

Psathyrotes schottii (A.Gray) A.Gray - Peucephyllum schottii A.Gray