Semi-desert. Depressions in rock. Spring.
Lower Butler Wash, Utah, May 3, 2007.

This minute beauty enjoys sandy, gravelly depressions in sandstones slabs.  Utah plant expert Stanley Welsh indicates that flowers usually are 10-12 millimeters across with some isolated populations as large as 25 mm.  Flowers pictured here are about 25 mm.

As the map below indicates, this species is not found in Colorado but is found in the other Four Corners states. 

The Talinum genus is now broken into Talinum and Phemeranthus and a number of species of each genus are found in the Four Corners states as well as in other areas of the U.S.

In 1854 John Torrey named this plant Talinum brevifolium.  In 1997 Hershkovitz placed it in a genus, Phemeranthus, that Rafinesque named in 1814.  The genus name is from the Greek "ephemeros", "ephemeral", "living for one day" and "anthos", "flower".

Semi-desert. Depressions in rock. Spring.
Lower Butler Wash, Utah, May 3, 2007.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color KeySpecies present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Phemeranthus brevifolius