The authoritative Flora of North America (available on-line) recognizes the plants as varieties of Lygodesmia grandiflora, not as separate species, but indicates that further study is necessary:  "Some variants were segregated as distinct species by A. S. Tomb; because of intermediates, putative hybrids, and associated identification problems, it is probably best to recognize these as varieties pending further investigation."

    The attractive flowers of this plant sit atop a skeleton-like stem and leaf structure that leads some to call it "Skeleton Plant". 

Semi-desert. Sandy openings and woodlands.  Spring.
East of Bluff, Utah, May 3, 2007.

This species seldomly grows taller than six inches with long, narrow leaves.  It inhabits sandy areas of all Four Corners states.  Notice the differences between this plant and Lygodesmia grandiflora below: fewer petals, slightly broader leaves, and differences in the color and structure of the bracts and phyllaries.

Weber and Kartesz recognize the two species shown on this page as distinct;  Welsh of A Utah Flora, the Intermountain Flora, and the Flora of North America see them (and several others) as varieties of Lygodesmia grandiflora.  

Desert, semi-desert, foothills.  Openings. Spring.
Dominguez Canyon, Gunnison River, May 13, 2003.

Ranging from pinks to lavender-blues, Rushpink flowers are very noticeable against the often barren-seeming ground that they prefer.  The flower is quite large relative to the rest of the plant.

"Lygos" is Greek for "pliant twig" and "desme" for a "bundle", all referring to the flower stems.

Thomas Nuttall collected the first specimen of this plant in the mid-1830s in the Rockies near the Platte River and he named it Erythremia grandiflora in 1841.  Torrey and Gray renamed it Lygodesmia grandiflora in 1843.

Desert, semi-desert.  Sand, openings and woodlands. Summer.
BLM lands in Utah near Hovenweep National Monument.

One common name for this genus is "Skeleton Plant".  Lygodesmia juncea branches often, is five to twenty-five inches tall, and has lovely soft pink flowers.  Although some botanical books indicate that the plant is glabrous, this plant and those around it were sticky with glandular hairs on the phyllaries and pedicel.  .

Lygodesmia juncea  (Rushpink) 
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Desert, semi-desert.  Sand, openings and woodlands. Summer.
BLM lands in Utah near Hovenweep National Monument.

Ray flowers are only 9-12 millimeters long.  Upper stem leaves (visible below the involucres and in the upper right corner of the photograph) are reduced to small, clasping scales.

Lygodesmia juncea  (Rushpink) 
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Desert, semi-desert.  Sand, openings and woodlands. Summer.
BLM lands in Utah near Hovenweep National Monument.