Larrea

	Taxon	Illustrator ⠉
	Fagonia longipes Fagonia laevis Zygophyllum fabago Larrea tridentata	Barbara Alongi Barbara Alongi Barbara Alongi Barbara Alongi

Shrubs [prostrate subshrubs]. Stems erect [prostrate], branched, swollen at nodes, quadrangular, becoming cylindric, [less than 1] to 4 [–7] m, hairy, becoming glabrate. Leaves opposite, 2-foliolate [even or odd-pinnately compound]; stipules persistent, herbaceous, ovate [to triangular], apex obtuse to acuminate [apiculate]; petiolules absent; leaflets [1–] 2 [–17], opposite [alternate], connate basally 2–4 mm (leaves appearing simple and 2-lobed) [distinct], obliquely lanceolate to falcate [oblong to ovate], equal [unequal], base angular, apex mucronate, surfaces appressed-pubescent, becoming glabrate. Pedicels in leaf-axils, erect or spreading. Flowers solitary, often irregular by twisting of petals; sepals deciduous, 5, distinct, green, ± unequal, margins undifferentiated, apex obtuse, appressed-pubescent; petals deciduous, 5, imbricate, spreading, twisted, yellow, oblong to oblong-lanceolate [ovate], base clawed, apex obtuse; nectary 10-lobed; stamens 10, ± equal; filaments free, subulate, with ± equal basal scales with toothed [entire] margins; anthers sagittate, versatile; ovary short-stalked, 5-lobed, 5-locular, hirsute-pilose; ovules [6–] 8 per locule; style persisting on young fruit, later deciduous, not forming beak; stigma minute. Fruits schizocarps, globose, 5-lobed, splitting septicidally into 5 mericarps. Seeds 1 per locule, brown, boatshaped. x = 13.