Desert Senna

Description:

Senna covesii (Desert Senna, Coues' Senna[1], Rattleweed, "rattlebox", "dais" or "Cove Senna") is a perennial subshrub in the family Fabaceae, native to the Mojave Desert and Sonoran Desert in southeastern California, southern Nevada, and Arizona in the United States, and northern Baja California in Mexico.

Habitat:

It is found on desert plains and in sandy washes between 500-600 m altitude, and very common in Joshua Tree National Park. The specific epithet honors ornithologist Elliott Coues.

Notes:

This bush is one of a few that are blooming on my property. We have watched them go from bud to full bloom the last two weeks or so. I imagine we'd have more if the rainfall had been more abundant.