The colors below indicate the kind of documentation available for this species
in the California counties where it occurs.
Fairyduster Calliandra eriophylla (Fabaceae)
When one mentions wildflowers, one usually thinks of flowers with colorful silky petals. The petals of fairyduster are so small that they are hard to find in each tight head-like cluster that consists of numerous flowers. The most conspicuous feature of these flowers resides not in their petals but in their stamens. The stamens form an unusual grouping that looks something like a peacock's crown. The dense clusters of stamens extend far beyond the petals giving the species its duster nickname.
DISTRIBUTION: Rare in sandy washes, slopes, and mesas of the Sonoran Desert; 1500 m.
