slender poreleaf
Porophyllum gracile Benth.
Slender poreleaf has a light, wiry outline formed by many thin branches. Its foliage can be sparse, leaving the stems especially conspicuous. A bluish or purplish cast and powdery surface often colour the whole plant. Despite its delicate appearance, it is a perennial with a woody lower portion. SEINet: Porophyllum gracile, Southwestern Field Guide
Botanical name
Porophyllum gracile Benth. is accepted by Kew, matching the catalog’s species and authorship. Kew POWO: Porophyllum gracile
Recognizing the plant
Plants usually stand twenty to seventy centimetres tall. Leaves are narrow enough to appear threadlike, generally two to five centimetres long. Each branch may end in a solitary flower head enclosed by five narrow bracts. The head contains a dozen or more small florets; their whitish or purplish corollas can carry darker purple streaks. The elongated dry fruits bear a tuft of fine bristles. Flora of North America: Porophyllum gracileSEINet: Porophyllum gracile, Southwestern Field Guide
Bloom window
Southwestern United States
Flora of North America records flowering from late winter into early summer, with another flowering period in autumn. Flora of North America: Porophyllum gracile
Native range
Its native range runs from California to Texas and into northern Mexico. Flora of North America places it among desert scrub on sandy, gravelly or rocky ground, often over granite, from about 200 to 2,100 metres. Kew POWO: Porophyllum gracileFlora of North America: Porophyllum gracile
Botanical sources
- Kew POWO: Porophyllum gracile
- Flora of North America: Porophyllum gracile
- SEINet: Porophyllum gracile, Southwestern Field Guide
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.