#EucnideRupestris / #AnnualRockNettle. An absolutely bizarre little plant. The flowers are like tennis-ball green with dark forest-green tips. What’s even more unusual is the fact that in California they only grow in a handful of locations in parts of San Diego and Imperial counties and only after unusually good monsoonal rains (like we had all throughout 2022). They’re less rare in Baja California and also found in a small area of Arizona and places east of the gulf of California. They grow on and at the base of these talus slopes in rocky desert canyons which explains the hairiness and the leaves that shine like they’re covered in gloss. It was a privilege to see these little guys! Coming Soon™️: a better look at the other rare-in-California plant you can see in the background of the first photo. Special thanks to everyone who has brought this plant to my attention (including Tom Chester’s very informative page about it on tchester.org) and my wonderful 4WD chauffeur yesterday. #eucnide #rocknettle #loasaceae #californianativeplants #rareishplants #anzaborregodesertstatepark (at Anza Borrego Desert State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm9wEaEvuQh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
