Semi-desert. Rimrock, openings. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, May 15, 2006.

The basal leaves of Frasera albomarginata are a fairly common, and very attractive, Four Corners flora sight.  Leaves in the basal rosettes are white margined ("albo marginata") and often wavy.  A stout stem branches and spreads to support numerous green/white flowers.  The plant is typically eight to sixteen inches tall, but following the record breaking drought of the winter of 2005-2006, plants were no more than eight inches tall.

Sereno Watson named this plant in 1871 from a specimen collected by Edward Palmer near St. George, Utah, in 1870.  The genus was named by Thomas Walter for 18th century British nurseryman and plant collector, John Fraser.  (More biographical information.)

Semi-desert. Rimrock, openings. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, May 15, 2006.

Semi-desert. Rimrock, openings. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, May 15, 2006.

Semi-desert. Sands, openings. Spring.
Hunter Canyon, Utah, May 3, 2005.

This slender giant grows to nearly four feet and puts out an abundance of small, green-white flowers.  (The blooms have evaded my detection, but someday I'll have photos of them on this web site.  Keep tuned.)  Basal leaves are much longer and wider than those of Frasera albomarginata (above).

This plant is often misidentified in Utah Canyon Country wildflower books and National Parks as Frasera albomarginata.  The white-margined basal leaves lead to this misidentification; the name "albomarginata" belongs to the plant shown at the top of this page.

John Torrey named this plant in 1857 from a specimen collected by John Bigelow on the Whipple Railroad Survey in 1853 on "Sand-bluffs, Inscription Rock, Zuni County," New Mexico, in what is now El Moro National Monument.  (Quotation from Intermountain Flora.)

Semi-desert. Sands, openings. Spring.
De-Na-Zin/Bisti Wilderness Area, New Mexico, April 23, 2007.

Semi-desert. Sands, openings. Spring.
De-Na-Zin/Bisti Wilderness Area, New Mexico, April 29, 2006.

Last year's dry seed pods are supported by a slender stem and stand four feet above the dry basal leaves. (Stem and basal leaves are center right.)