Nama retrorsa (Howell's Nama, Betatakin Fiddleleaf)
Namaceae (Fiddleleaf Family). Synonym: Boraginaceae (Forget-Me-Not Family)

Semi-desert. Sand. Spring.
East of Bluff, Utah, May 3, 2007.

This exquisitely dainty plant thrives in dry, sandy areas of the Four Corners.  It grows four to twelve inches tall and is covered with both coarse and fine hairs, the latter bent backwards and giving rise to its specific epithet, "retrorsum", Latin for "bent backward".

The Latin genus name given by Linnaeus in 1753 means "a spring" and refers to the moist habitat of some species of Nama.  J. T. Howell named and described Nama retrorsa which he and Alice Eastwood found near Tuba City, Arizona in 1949 when Alice was 90 years old.

Semi-desert. Sand. Spring.
East of Bluff, Utah, May 3, 2007.

Various length hairs cover the plant and some are sticky enough to hold the sand particles seen glistening on the floral tube and calyx.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species 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 Nama retrorsa