Desert Trumpet

The tiny yellow flowers of the desert trumpet develop at the ends of the delicate branches of the plant.

NPS/ Mark Draper

Beginning with the winter rain the desert trumpet (Erigoonum inflatum) develops a woody taproot and basal rosette of flat crinkled silvery-green leaves. In the spring the annual plant will develop several hollow tubular stems with a waxy smooth bluish color. These stems often bulge near the top.

Extending from the top of the stems are several smaller stems that fork out baring almost inconspicuous yellow flowers with reddish markings. In years with plentiful rainfall these plants burst with many more stems and flowers than in years of drought.

As the summer comers to a close and temperatures begin to decline the plant will drop its seeds and begin to dry out. The bulging stem which has a buildup of CO₂ will take over as the primary photosynthetic body until the plant finally reaches the end of its life.

 

The hollow woody stems of the desert trumpet bulge at the top. This bulge contains a reserve of carbon dioxide the plant will use for photosynthesis once its leaves die.

NPS/ Mark Draper