Blue Pygmyflower

Monnina wrightii A. Gray, PI. Wright. 2:31. 1853
Erect simple or sparsely branched annual, 5 dm. high or less, rather sparsely incurvedpuberulous; lowest leaves obovate or elliptic-obovate, obtuse, the others narrowly lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 1.5-6 cm. long, 1.5-10 mm. wide, acuminate to attenuate, sparsely incurvedpuberulous; petioles 1-2.5 mm. long; peduncles terminal, 1-6 cm. long; racemes slenderconic, acuminate, 2.5-8 mm. thick, the axis 3 dm. long or less; bracts ovate-subulate, attenuate, deciduous, 2.5-3 mm. long; pedicels 0.4 mm. long; flowers greenish or cream-colored, becoming purplish-blue in drying; sepals oval-ovate to (lower) elliptic-ovate, acute to acuminate, 1.2-1.8 mm. long; wings obovate, 3 mm. long, 2 mm. wide, broadly rounded, glabrous or sparsely ciliate below; keel 3-3.5 mm. long; staminal sheath pilose-ciliate, united with upper petals for most of length, auriculate on upper side at base of first filament, pilose-tufted at apex; fruit obliquely oval or ovale, inequilateral, compressed, cordate at base, spreading-puberulous to glabrous, reticulate, wing-margined on both sides, 3-4.7 mm. long, 2.8-4 mm. wide.
Type locality: Gravelly slopes and rocky hillsides, near the copper mines [Santa Rita], New Mexico.
Distribution: New Mexico and Arizona to Chihuahua and Durango.