| Ayenia compacta | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Sterculiaceae |
| Genus: | Ayenia |
| Species: | A. compacta |
| Binomial name | |
| Ayenia compacta Rose |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Ayenia californica |
|
Ayenia compacta is a species of shrub in the cacao family known by the common name California ayenia. It is native to the Sonoran Desert and surrounding ranges in California, Arizona, and Baja California. This is a small shrub producing many erect, branching stems up to 40 centimeters tall from a taproot. The sparse leaves are oval in shape and edged in dull teeth. The flowers appear in the leaf axils. Each has upcurled sepals in one layer and downcurled petals in a layer just above. Each petal has a threadlike claw. The capsule fruit is a purple-tinted yellow sphere about half a centimeter wide.