Turpentine broom

Quick look

Thamnosma montana, the turpentine broom, or Mojave desert-rue, is a shrub in the citrus family Rutaceae. It is native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Except immediately after heavy rains, its straight stems usually lack leaves, giving it a broom-like appearance. The Latin specific epithet montana refers to mountains or coming from mountains.

• It belongs to the Rutaceae family. ^iNaturalist
• USDA PLANTS describes it as a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
• USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 4 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
• NatureServe lists it as native to Nevada. ^NatureServe
• In Nevada, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in January–April. ^iNaturalist
• USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. ^{USDA PLANTS}
• USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
• USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
• iNaturalist has 868 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #36 among the 110 flowers on our Nevada list. ^iNaturalist