Stanleya pinnata

(Desert Prince’s Plume)

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Stanleya pinnata, along Rimrock Dr., Colorado National Monument, Mesa Co. 4318

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Stanleya pinnata, along Rinrock Dr., Colorado National Monument, Mesa Co. 4319

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Stanleya pinnata, along Rimrock Dr., Colorado National Monument, Mesa Co. 4333

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Stanleya pinnata, along Rourke Rd. near Picket Wire Canyon, Comanche National Grasslands, Otero Co. 4252

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Stanleya pinnata, along Rimrock Dr., Colorado National Monument, Mesa Co. 4322

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Stanleya pinnata, along Rimrock Dr., Colorado National Monument, Mesa Co. 4335

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Stanleya pinnata, along Rimrock Dr., Colorado National Monument, Mesa Co. 4338

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Stanleya pinnata, along Rourke Rd. near Picket Wire Canyon, Comanche National Grasslands, Otero Co. 4257

Scientific Name Stanleya pinnata USDA PLANTS Symbol STPI
Common Name Desert Prince's Plume, Golden Prince's Plume ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 23329
Family Brassicaceae (Mustard) SEINet
Reference
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Description Life zones and habitat: Plains and foothills (4000 to 8300 ft.); various dry soils including selenium-rich soils in open areas, deserts, hillsides, grasslands and scrublands.
Plant: Upright perennial herb to subshrub or shrub 1 to 4 ft. tall with multiple, mostly unbranched stems.
Leaves: Basal and lower stem leaves wither before flowering, 1.2 to 6 inches long and 0.8 to 2 inches wide, oblanceolate to ovate, pinnately lobed; upper stem leaves becoming smaller, entire, dentate or few-lobed.
Inflorescence: Dense, plume-like racemes 4 to 14 inches long of yellow flowers, each with 4 petals about 0.5-inch long, densely hairy inside; 6 protruding stamens; 4 linear-oblong, spreading yellow sepals.
Bloom Period: April to September.
Fruit: Green, narrow, long (up to 4 inches) pods projecting outwards, hanging down with age.
References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses, SEINet, and American Southwest.
BONAP Distribution Map

Map Color Key
Colorado Status:
Native

© Tom Lebsack 2025

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